Local guide · Kure Beach
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Fort Fisher was the largest earthwork fort in the Confederacy, and it fell in January 1865 in the biggest amphibious assault in American history before World War II. A new visitor center opened in 2024, and admission is free.
Why families go
Families like that the story works both inside and out. Inside is the renovated museum. Outside, a trail loops past the surviving earthen mounds, cannons and ocean views. The new exhibits get steady praise, and the site was named the state’s 2025 Visitor Attraction of the Year. It’s exposed and hot in summer, so go early and bring water.
Don’t miss
- The new visitor centerOpened in fall 2024 with expanded exhibits and artifacts.
- The earthworks trailWalk the surviving mounds and a rebuilt section with a bombproof shelter you can step inside.
- Shepherd’s Battery cannonA working 32-pounder, fired at special events.
- The full storyExhibits include the 27th U.S. Colored Troops who helped take the fort, and the hundreds of enslaved and free Black laborers who built it.
Photo: NC Historic Sites
Before you go
- Closed Sunday and Monday.
- Guided tours are optional, paid and sold same day at the site.
- There’s no picnic area; the state recreation area and beach are a few minutes south.
Plan your visit
- Where: 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd. S., Kure Beach, NC 28449
- From Topsail: About 1 hour 15 minutes from central Surf City.
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Admission: Free (optional paid tours).
- Official site: NC Historic Sites: Fort Fisher
- More nearby: more family fun in Kure Beach
A short drive from the island. Browse our Topsail Island vacation rentals, all cared for by our local team.
Based on official information from the attraction and on recurring themes in public reviews; checked October 2026. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.