Make Your New Visitor's Center a Reality!
Last year over 900,000 people visited the Fort Fisher State Historic Site property! That's local families, school groups, military groups, retirement groups, Jr. ROTC, Boys/Girls Club Summer Camp, YMCA Summer Camp, tourists and more! When the Visitor's Center was built back in the mid-1960's, it was originally intended to accommodate 25,000 people annually. With its oceanside and riverside natural setting, its role in using Women Air Force Service Pilots and training arnti-aircraft artillery servicemen in WWII and the pivotal part played in the American Civil War by defending the last remaining open major port on the eastern seaboard, Fort Fisher State Historic Site has much more it can offer, but we ran out of space to do it years ago!
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Provided leadership to secure state and federal funding, permits and regulatory changes to build the protective 3,050 foot oceanfront revetment
Purchased the reproduction 32-pounder rifled cannon and hand built carriage for Shepherd's Battery
Purchased the site's reproduction 12-pounder bronze Napoleon cannon, carriage, implements and trailer, coehorn mortar, replica English 8-inch Armstrong Rifled Cannon and authentic period uniforms, rifles and accoutrements
Ongoing support and funding for annual Mary Holloway Seasonal Interpreter Internship and annual monetary support for the NC History Day Competition - Civil War Prize
Raised over $90,000 for new interpretive historical markers, memorial benches and three new temporary exhibits for the 150th Anniversary year
Raised over $70,000 to sponsor the Fort Fisher 150th Anniversary Commemoration weekend attended by more than 22,000 visitors
Secured state funding for the $147,000 fort defensive palisade replacement wich is an 1,100 foot long wooden structure that protected the fort's north face from land assault
Assumed leadership role in developing the Fort Fisher Master Site Plan for future site development
Conducted a successful reunion during the 150th Anniversary Commemoration for 187 descendants of both Union and Confederate soldiers, sailors and marines who fought at Fort Fisher and presented 750 specially minted and numbered medal to descendants, re-enactors and anniversary sponsors
FUTURE & ONGOING GOALS
With your financial and membership support Fort Fisher will see these goals become reality!
Provided leadership to secure state and federal funding, permits and regulatory changes to build the protective 3,050 foot oceanfront revetment
Purchased the reproduction 32-pounder rifled cannon and hand built carriage for Shepherd's Battery
Purchased the site's reproduction 12-pounder bronze Napoleon cannon, carriage, implements and trailer, coehorn mortar, replica English 8-inch Armstrong Rifled Cannon and authentic period uniforms, rifles and accoutrements
Ongoing support and funding for annual Mary Holloway Seasonal Interpreter Internship and annual monetary support for the NC History Day Competition - Civil War Prize
Raised over $90,000 for new interpretive historical markers, memorial benches and three new temporary exhibits for the 150th Anniversary year
Mount a 10-inch Columbiad cannon in Shepherd's Battery
Identify and build a database to connect descendants of all soldiers, sailors and marines who fought in the Fort Fisher and the Wilmington Campaigns
Make more hand-on learning opportunities available for educators, students, scouting organizations and the public through archaeological field schools, living history programs and day camps
Develop a trail walk to explore the old River Road, supply route to the fort
Develop and Support ongoing rotating exhibits and special events
Increase interpretation of Fort Fisher's role during World War II
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Our North Carolina legislators realize the value of the resource we have here at Fort Fisher and they have taken steps to bring our facilities up to date and increase our size. But we need YOU, our community, to help us fill that museum and expand the earthworks exhibits. With your input we have created exciting plans for additional mounds, artillery and museum exhibits!
It will take $3 Million to bring this whole project to life. It's a big goal and we are a small organization, but we know that many of you have a strong commitment to and passion for history. We know many of you have ancestors that were involved in the Battles of Fort Fisher and the Wilmington Campaign. We know many of you have family that served in WWII and may have trained at Fort Fisher's anti-aircraft training facility while stationed at Camp Davis.
We are counting on you to keep history alive and to preserve Fort Fisher State Historic Site while bringing its facilities into the 21st Century. Our collective commitment and our passion is strong. Together we can do this! Together we can achieve $3 Million. Please donate to this project today.
If you would like to know more about sponsorship and naming opportunities, please contact our Executive Director, Christine Divoky, at 910.233.2013 or cdivoky@friendsoffortfisher.com.
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