The Fort Fisher Visitors Center and Me

I even remember the very first Fort Fisher Visitors Center and Museum which was a maybe 60 by 60 foot metal shed located at Battle Acre by the Confederate monument.  I'm not sure when it was built.  As a matter of fact when I was really young, I liked going to Fort Fisher but not to see the history or museum of it.  There was this really strange man with a long beard and usually shirtless who held court there.  He was known as the Fort Fisher Hermit.

Then came the Civil War Centennial (1961-1965).  This happened right when I was the most interested in the Civil War in my young life (I was 10 to 15 during the centennial.)  Around 1963, they built the structure that served as the museum until earlier this year.

I spent a lot of time in there whenever I was in North Carolina visiting family.  

When I first heard about the new center, I was told that the plan was to immediately tear down the old one and put up a temporary structure to house the museum and center because of parking.  I thought that was not a good move.  Leave the old one up until right before the new one is complete and then move stuff over directly.

Part of the problem was parking, but I figured why not just have people park in the part of Fort Fisher that was torn down for an airstrip during WW II.  This is what they did.

I sure am going to miss the old one, but really look forward to seeing the new one.

--Old B-Runner

Pictures of the Old and New Fort Fisher Visitor Centers

The June 25, 2024, Wilmington (NC) Star-News had pictures of the old and new Fort Fisher Visitors Centers.  

The June 25 Wilmington NC WECT TV station had a picture of the destruction of the old one.

Sad But Exciting. --Old B-R'er

A Sad But Exciting Time for Me and Fort Fisher: The Old Visitors Center Is Demolished

From the June 25 WECT, Wilmington, N.C., News.

It is the end of an era for a museum showcasing the history of our area.

Crews are working as of Tuesday, June 25, to tear down the old Fort Fisher Visitor Center.

This comes as the new Visitors Center nears completion and is set to open later this summer.

If you've been down to Fort Fisher recently. you will have seen the new building being built right next to the old one.

The demolition of the old building should take a couple days.

(Sadly, it should be down now.)

Sad to see the old one go.  Excited about the new one.

----Old B-Sorrow

If You Want to Visit Fort Fisher, Better Do It Before April 16

From the April 9, 2024, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

In the interest of safety and security, the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced today that the Fort Fisher Historic Site will temporarily close to the public beginning Tuesday, April 16 as workers relocate exhibits, artifacts and staff offices to the site' new 20,000 square foot visitors center.

In addition, work will begin on the restoration of parts of the fort  which were demolished when the fort was used as an anti-aircraft training facility during World War II

This temporary closure refers to all parts of the fort west of US-421, including the museum, restrooms, tour trails around the mounds and parking lots.

The sites Battle Acre, east of US-421, will remain open.

Plans called for a phased reopening during the summer.

But, if you want to see the fort, you'd better get out there before this coming Tuesday.

--Old B-Runner

Some More on the New Fort Fisher Visitors Center

From February 21, 2024, BNN Breaking  "Reviving history:  Fort Fisher's new visitor center aims to redefine historical exploration in Kure Beach" by Sakchi Khandelwal.

It's been a journey of persistence and vision, starting in 2009, to bring the new visitor center to Fort Fisher from conception to construction.  Now, with the project underway and scheduled to be completed by Labor Day things are moving along swiftly.

Jim Steele, the Fort Fisher Historic Site Manager, says:  "The new center is not just a building; it's a gateway for visitors to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of our history."

The budget for the whole undertaking is $25 million.  Throughout the whole process, feedback from the public has been a cornerstone of it.

--Old B-R'er

The New Fort Fisher Visitors Center Progressing

From February 21, 2024, WWAY News, Wilmington, N.C. "Fort Fisher Visitor Center Undergoing Finishing Touches" by Emily Andrews.

I've been watching this with more than a little interest as this old Confederate fort is my absolute favorite Civil War place.  Because of it I ended up being a teacher so I could work with history.

The so-far 18-month project began in October 2022 and has a price tag of $25 million.

Right now, plans are for having a ribbon-cutting ceremony this coming Labor Day.

--Old B-Runner

Progress on the New Fort Fisher Visitors Center-- Part 2

There will be glass, lots of glass, to let natural light into the building and offer an unobstructed of the fort's earthen structures.

Upstairs, visitors will be able to travel back in time as they peruse the artifacts in the main exhibit space.  Glass walls will offer ocean and natural landscape views, one which includes many live  oaks stretching from the river to near the ocean.

There will be a 120-person multipurpose room available to rent, a gift shop overlooking the fort's earthworks, a second story balcony, a theater that will seat 100 people and a changeable  exhibit gallery of artifacts from the North Carlina Underwater Archeology Center.

The underwater archeology center, or UAC, is housed at Fort Fisher in a series of buildings, some built during World War II.  A new lab is also under construction several yards from the visitors center.  The lab is not open to the public.

--Old B-Runner

 

Officials Show Off Progress on New Fort Fisher Visitor Center

From the April 18, 2023, Coastal review by Trista Talton.

The new structure will be roughly three times the size of the existing one.  They say the existing one outgrew itself a long time ago so that is why a new one is needed.  By 2021, visitors exceeded 1,000,000.

(However, the new one was a huge improvement over the first one which was a square metal structure on Battle Acre, maybe 60 by 60 feet.)

The new one will have an airy indoor space with more exhibits and will offer views of the beautiful landscape of the area between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River.

Work kicked off about six months ago, but little of the new structure can be seen yet.  Right now it is just the tops of concrete pilings driven fifty feet into ground and a lot of freshly dug earth.  Those pilings took the better part of two months to complete and are the foundation of a two story building built to endure hurricane force winds and flooding associated with coastal areas.

--Old B-Runner

New Fort Fisher Museum Underway-- Part 4: To Withstand Storms

The new visitir center is designed for its dynamic location at the mouth of the Cape Fear River.  Before crews  proceded with their current work on the foundation they installed about 180 piles to the depth of 50 feet.

Once the foundation is complete,  the first floor will be elevated five feet above the existing grade to accommodate storm surge and the building will be constructed promarily of concrete to strengthen it against storms.

"It is definitely going to be exposed to the elements pver the years, and it's been designed to withstand it,"  Ben Warren said.

A 6,400-square-foot building for the state's  underwater archaeology facilities is also planned for the property.  Warren listed  boat storage, preservation labs and dive support as some of the amenities planned for the archaeology space.

--Old B-Runner

New Fort Fisher Visitors Center/Museum Underway-- Part 2

Slated for completion in April 2024, the new 24,000 square foot visitor center will replace the current facility, which remains open and operational until the new building is finished.  Built in 1965, the old visitor center is equipped to handle 25,000 visitors annually.  In 2021, the site had more than a million people.

I  know that initially the plan called for tearing down the present visitors center and moving everything into temporary quarters nearby until the new one was completed.  I always thought this was a very wasteful plan.  Hey, use the old one until the new one is completed.  I'm glad they decided to do that.

Larger facilities will enable Fort Fisher to serve growing crowds with more exhibit space, storage for artifacts and offices for staff plus a new auditorium and multipurpose room for  events, which Warren says will access  a  balcony with views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River.

--Old B-Runner

New Fort Fisher Visitors Center and Museum Underway-- Part 1

From March 15, 2023, Wilmington (NC) Biz "New Fort Fisher facilities on the rise" by Miriah Hamrick.

The new foundation is being laid at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach, North Carolina.  The Bordeaux  Construction Co. crews  are currently working on it as the first step in a multi-phase project that will also erect  new facilities for the North Carolina Underwater Archaeology Branch.

Also, pending money from the state, work will be done on the Civil War fortifications of the fort as well.  (Part of the fort's land face was leveled for a landing strip that was used for anti-aircraft practice during World War II.  That part will be rebuilt.)

By May, the foundation will be complete and the new two-story building which will house the museum and visitors center will begin construction.

"Then we will start going vertical," said Ben Warren, vice president of  Bordeaux Construction.

--Old B-Runner

Groundbreaking Set for New Fort Fisher Visitor Center

From the November 3, 2022, Coastal Review "Groundbreaking set for new visitor center, lab at Fort Fisher."

A groundbreaking ceremony is set to take place at  Fort Fisher State Historic  Site at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, November 10 to mark the construction of a new visitor center and conservation lab for the Underwater Archaeology Branch of the  Office of State Archaeology. 

Located at 1610 Fort Fisher Boulevard South, Kure Beah, North Carolina. it is a part of the  Division of State Historic Sites in the North Carolina Department of Natural and  Cultural Resources.

Attendees at the groundbreaking are expected to include Secretary  D. Reid Wilson of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, members of the North Carolina General Assembly and members of the Friends of Fort Fisher (to which I belong).

Light refreshments will be served.

Construction is expected to be finished in April 2024.  The new facility is expected to cost about $25.5 million, most of whih has been appropriated by the General Assembly since 2016.

In planning since 2010, the new visitor center is to be about 22,000 square feet, three times the size of the existing facility which was built in 1965 (and I remember when this opened).

The new visitor center will have  nearly double the museum exhibit space, plus amenities such as a 100-seat orientation theater and a multipurpose room suitable for rental and eduactional activities such as wedding eceptions and classroom instruction.

I Can't Wait.  My Favorite Place Gettng Even Better!!  --Old B-Runner

Big To Do at the Fort This Weekend-- Part 5: Sunday, Jan. 19

1:00 PM--  Dr. Angela Zombek  "Military Prisons & POWs During the Civil War"  at the Masonboro Parlor at the E. Gehrig Spencer Theater.

**  Infantry demonstration at Shepherd's Battery.

1:30  PM--  Free guided tour of the fort.

2:00 PM--  Artillery demonstration at Shepherd's Battery.

**  Above the Scenes tour, tickets required; limited to 25 persons.

**  Junior Reserves  "Cyphers" in the Living History Area.

2:30 PM--  Dr. Jamie Martinez, "Confederate Slave Impressment in North Carolina."

**  Torpedo demonstration in Living History Area.

**  Infantry demonstration at Shepherd's Battery.

**  Free guided tour.

3:30 PM--  Infantry demonstration at Shepherd's Battery.

4:00 PM--  Artillery demonstration at Shepherd's Battery.

5:00 PM--  Visitors Center closes.

It's Over Now.  --Old B-Runner

Know Before You Go to Fort Fisher This Weekend for the 155th Commemoration

**  Free paring will be available at the Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area.  From there, Cape Fear Coach Lines  will drive you, at no charge, to the fort.

**  Or, you can choose to walk the wooded trail to the fort (about 1/2 mile).

**  Handicap parking  will be available onsite at the Visitors Center, for those with a placard.

**  Battle Acre parking will be closed starting Friday morning (January 17) until Sunday (Jan. 19)  due to the fireworks which will be used during the re-enactment.

**  The Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry is closed until March.

**  Hot dogs and refreshments will be available on site by the Federal Point Historic Preservation Society.

This event has been made possible through the donations of individuals, Friends of Fort Fisher members, New Hanover County, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.

Come On Down!!  --Old B-R'er

Bill Seeks $7.5 Million for Fort Fisher-- Part 2: Reconstructing Mounds

The new visitors center will have more space for exhibits, a larger auditorium and space for classrooms and storage facilities.

Fort Fisher's new visitors center already has received $5 million in the 2017-1018 budget to begin with and this $7.5 million will be placed in the project reserve account.  The total could reach $20 million if this bill is approved.

(Not sure of the math here.  I'm also not sure of the 900,000 visitors as I believe they are counting ones from the very popular Fort Fisher Recreation area.)

The design work has already been funded for $400,000.

The Friends of Fort Fisher, a very active group, is on the hook for an additional $2 million for increased and improved exhibits.

HB 44 also provides for the reconstruction of two or three mounds that were leveled for the construction of the World War II air field.  (It was used for planes pulling anti-aircraft targets for training.)  The Friends of Fort Fisher is also expected to fund cannons for these.

The bill has passed the first reading in the House and referred to committee.

--Old B-Runner

Bill Seeks $7.5 Million for Fort Fisher-- Part 1: New 20,000 Square Foot Visitor Center

From the February 16, 2019, Winston-Salem (NC) Journal  "Bill seeks $7.5 million for final piece of Fort Fisher project. (Tribune News Service)

The bill was introduced last week by New Hanover County Representative Ted Davis (R-New Hanover).  Also Representative Deb Butler (D-New Hanover) sponsor.

It is House Bill 44 and provides $7.5 million for a new visitors center and $500,000 on the grounds of the North Carolina Underwater Archaeology Branch (on the grounds of Fort Fisher).

The new visitors center will be 20,000 square feet and will include improvements to the parking lot and expanded earthworks.  Fort Fisher is the most heavily attended state historic site.  In the 2017-2018 fiscal year some 900,000 visitors came to the fort.

--Old B-R'er

Improvements to Fort Fisher State Historic Site

From the Feb. 12, 2019, WWAY TV, Wilmington, N.C., "Rep. Davis pushes house bill to improve Fort Fisher State Historic Site" by Monique Robinson.

A bill to spend $7.5 million to build a 20,000 square foot visitors center, expand the remain earthworks of the fort, upgrade the parking lot and maintenance facilities.  It also includes $500,000 to expand the facilities of the Fort Fisher Underwater Archaeology Branch.

The state representative pushing for it is Ted Davis (R-New Hanover County).

Any Monies Toward the Fort Are Much Appreciated.  --Old B-Runner

The Future of Fort Fisher-- Part 1: New Visitors Center

From the Friends of Fort Fisher, July 27, 2017.

A meeting was held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday August 4 at the Fort Fisher Museum.

State Representative Ted Davis Jr. and North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources Secretary Suzi Hamilton and local officials presented the Future of Fort Fisher including major improvements and rebuilding parts of the fort.

Among the things to be done:

1.  Demolish existing visitors center.

2.  New visitors center to be built north of current one.

3.  The old one will become the parking area for the new one and will be enlarged.

4.  Recreate the earthen mounds and sally port.  (These were taken down when the Army built the airfield during World War II.)

--Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher To Get a New Visitors Center

From the July 26, 2017, WWAY 3 Wilmington, N.C.  "Fort Fisher State Historic Site Plans To Ad New Visitors Center."

It will replace the smaller, aging one now on the site with a new one.  According to Susi Hamilton, Fort Fisher is the most-visited state historic site.

And, visitation is increasing.  For the 2016-2017 fiscal year some 835,000 have come to the site, which was designed for 25,000 to 30,000 visitors a year.  The new one will about four times the size of the one now there.

The new one will have expanded permanent exhibits, a changing exhibit gallery, expanded auditorium, educational classroom, rental facilities for special events, expanded gift shop and additional office space.

--Old B-Runner

New Fort Fisher Visitors Center Plans-- Part 2: Thanks to Ted Davis (R-New Hanover)

Susi Hamilton, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural Cultural Resources announced Friday at the event held at the old Fort Fisher Visitors Center that the firm of Clark Nexsen has been selected to design the 20,000 square foot new visitors center which will also have a 150-seat grand hall, a similar auditorium to the present one, indoor classroom,expanded gift shop and many other features.

She thanked state representative Ted Davis (R-New Hanover County) for securing the $5 million in funding after it was initially zeroed out of the N.C, state senate's budget.  However, support from private donors is still needed.

Clark Nexsen's Raleigh office says advance planning is finished and by late 2017, will be in the hands of the state construction office by early 2018.  If they approve the detailed design the blueprint process will begin.

Tank You, Mr. Davis.  --Old B-Runner