The new Fort Fisher visitor center, opening Sept. 27, will tell a wider story. Crews at the North Carolina Civil War site are rushing to finish recreated earthworks

New visitor center, Civil War map along staircase to the second floor and a colorized version of a Timothy O'Sullivan photograph of a damaged Fort Fisher traverse (FFSHS)

(Editor's note: The park announced Sept. 20 the opening is indefinitely postponed due to flooding damage from a tropical system)

A new and larger visitor center at Fort Fisher below Wilmington, N.C., will provide a broader and more people-centric history than the previous venue, officials said.

The state historic site near Kure Beach recently announced the two-story visitor center and its museum will open on Sept. 27. The park closed in April for construction of the 20,000-square-foot visitor center and for an usual rebuilding of earthworks.

“There are a few more items in the Civil War section, but the new sections covering the time before Fort Fisher as well as the span of time between the Civil War and WWII are where we had to bring in the most new artifacts,” assistant site manager Chad Jefferds told the Picket.

Fort Fisher was built on the peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, south of Wilmington. It is best known as a crucial coastal bastion for the Confederacy.

A Whitworth gun on the first floor of the visitor center (FFSHS)

On Jan. 15, 1865, after a naval bombardment, the Federal army attacked from the western, river side while Marines pushed in from the northeast bastion. The fall of the “Gibraltar of the South” cut off blockade runners and the last supply line through Wilmington to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. U.S. Colored Troops were among those taking part in the attack.

Essentially everything between Shepherd’s Battery on the western end of the fort’s land face and the center sally port were the scenes of intense fighting during the US Army’s assault. The fighting went from along the traverses from west to east and was often hand-to-hand.

Fort Fisher’s use during World War II helped the Allied cause but destroyed some of its familiar defensive traverses. They were removed to make way for an airstrip when the area was used for training anti-aircraft and coastal artillery units.

Construction crews are working to complete recreations of three traverses, bombproofs, a magazine and the sally port, Jefferds said. “The dirt being brought in has to dry out to a certain level before it can be used, but the weather has not been conducive. Hopefully it will be ready for our grand opening, but it’s no guarantee at this point.”

Sally port tunnel on far left during traverse reconstruction. At far right is historic traverse (FFSHS)

With the three traverses will come two gun emplacements, which will each have a heavy cannon, along with two 12-pounder Napoleons in the center sally port.

The new visitor center stands about 100 yards from the fort wall. It is just north of the east-west line mounds of earth known as traverses that were part of the defenses. Much of the eastern part of the fort has been claimed by the ocean. 

“Not only will visitors be able to see the majority of the remaining traverses from the second floor, they will also be able to see them as they approach from the parking lot. This is one of the main reasons for the first floor being perpendicular to the second floor,” said Jefferds.(bombproof recreation, below)

The visitor center’s first floor has a welcome desk, gift shop, restrooms and staff offices.

The second floor houses the main exhibit gallery as well as a temporary exhibit gallery that will change regularly. It  is home to an information desk, an orientation theater, restrooms and a multipurpose room that can be used for a classroom space, banquets or wedding receptions.

Among the wall displays is a colorized Timothy O’Sullivan photo of the fort taken shortly after its fall.

“That particular photo is of the 4^th traverse along the land face of the fort, likely where the fort’s commander Col. William Lamb was wounded,” said Jefferds. “It really shows the carnage that abounded here after the U.S. Navy’s bombardment and ensuing land battle, with the broken cannons and debris scattered all around.”

I asked him whether the venue will tell the same story, with some twists.

“The story is the same and Fort Fisher is obviously the central theme, but the way it’s told is different. We’ve tried to tell the story of Fort Fisher through the eyes of the people who lived, worked, fought and died here. We’ve also enhanced the coverage of the time before the Civil War as well as the time after, all the way through WWII when the fort served as a training facility for antiaircraft and coastal artillery units.”

Parking and admission at the site is free. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. The building is wheelchair-accessible and an elevator goes to the second floor.

Here's the recipe for the new bombproofs and traverses going up at North Carolina's Fort Fisher: Do research. Add precast concrete. Cover with a whole lot of dirt

Bombproof construction begins, pieces for tunnel entrance next to original traverses (Fort Fisher)

A construction project this summer at Fort Fisher State Historic Site in North Carolina is something you don’t see every day – or will likely see anywhere else.

Sections of precast concrete were placed Friday near a giant mound of dirt as crews begin to build a replica bombproof -- an earth- and timber-covered structure that protected a garrison from shelling.

The Civil War site near Kure Beach and contractors are engaged in an extraordinary effort to recreate three traverses, bombproofs, a magazine and a sally port that were vital parts of the Confederate fort, which fell in furious hand-to-hand combat in January 1865.

“This is a one-of-a-kind project,” said Ben Warren project manager with Bordeaux Construction of Morrisville, N.C. “We build much larger projects, but many things on this project are unique.”

Rendering of traverses, sally port and visitor center behind (Fort Fisher)

A portion of the vital fort’s earthworks was leveled during World War II to make way for an airstrip when the area was used to train anti-aircraft and coastal artillery units. The work is in conjunction with a new visitor center, also being built by Bordeaux Construction.

The earthworks project requires nearly three dozen pieces of precast concrete. About half have arrived, said Warren. The pieces were made by the Alcrete plant in Jacksonville, N.C.

Chad Jefferds, assistant site manager at Fort Fisher, told the Picket there will be a new tunnel allowing visitors to pass through the fort at the center sally port, as would have been the case originally, along with bombproofs under the traverses.

The traverses are being built in the same line as those that have withstood the effects of time and change. Rebuilding the fort will involve the reconstruction of the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th traverses.

Click to enlarge to see rebuilt features, including tunnel and bombproof (Fort Fisher)

“You will not see the precast concrete tunnels, as they will be clad in wood, such that the tunnels will appear as though they were built from timber, same as they were built originally,” Warren said in an email.

Jefferds said the concrete will be placed, waterproofed and buried over the next several weeks “so that work can begin on the gun emplacements atop the recreated mounds. The current timeline for the work has everything being completed by early September, but this is all highly dependent on weather.”

The site, with the exception of a tour stop, closed in April. The new 20,000 square-foot visitor center, a significant upgrade, is just north of the east-west line mounds of earth known as traverses that were part of the defenses. Much of the eastern part of the fort has been claimed by the ocean. 

Visitors will use tunnel to explore  features in new traverses (Fort Fisher)

Crews will work to ensure any exposed portions of the concrete will be made to look like they appeared during the battle.

“Visitors will be able to walk through the tunnel and bombproofs, as well as up into the gun emplacements themselves,” said Jefferds.

“We are in the process of sourcing reproduction munitions, boxes, barrels, etc. to make the bombproofs appear as they may have during the Civil War.”

With the three traverses will come two gun emplacements, which will have a heavy cannon in each, along with two 12-pounder Napoleons in the center sally port.

The project will allow people to interact with the fort in a whole new way, as the tunnels and bombproofs have been caved in and inaccessible since the late 19th century, said Jefferds.

The new visitor center rises to the north of construction area (Fort Fisher)

The design of the recreated earthworks is based on historic maps, photographs and descriptions. Architectural and engineering firm Clark Nexsen made the designs, which will be similar to the original mounds, said Warren.

Dennis Stallings, design director for Clark Nexsen, said it had an archaeological consultant on its team, Commonwealth Heritage Group, which “provided documentary research along with archeological research and provided a comprehensive report on the original fort and its construction."

There were archeological investigations in 1970 and another in 1981 that provided context.

“We aimed to create earthworks that appeared historically accurate while seamlessly incorporating modern construction techniques,” Stallings wrote in an email. “This endeavor presented a unique challenge, as we found little precedent to guide us.”

“The reward is a project that is immensely satisfying as architects. It is a one-of-a-kind endeavor that millions of people will interact with over the coming decades,” he said.

New visitor center is in the middle, at left is current one, new traverses far left (Bordeaux Construction)

Fort Fisher was built on the peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, south of Wilmington.

On Jan. 15, 1865, after a naval bombardment, the Federal army attacked from the western, river side while Marines pushed in from the northeast bastion. The fall of the “Gibraltar of the South” cut off blockade runners and the last supply line through Wilmington to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. U.S. Colored Troops were among those taking part in the attack.

Essentially everything between Shepherd’s Battery on the western end of the fort’s land face and the center sally port were the scenes of intense fighting during the US Army’s assault. The fighting went from along the traverses from west to east and was often hand-to-hand.

Jefferds said planning is underway for a grand opening ceremony, which should take place toward the end of September “if everything stays on schedule.”

Montage of Timothy O'Sullivan wartime photos of traverses; click to enlarge

The new museum will be three times larger than the current one, with more room for groups, educational space, rental opportunities, staff offices, etc. The exhibit area is also larger and will be based on the experiences of the place by the people who lived, fought, and died here.

While Fort Fisher is still the focus, the approach in developing our exhibits was much more driven by people, including underrepresented groups, said Jefferds.

“The (visitor center) exhibit casework and artifact installation will begin next week and will wrap up on the last week of August, at which time the only remaining work will be on the earthworks and fortifications,” said Warren.

The old visitor center has been torn down.

"Doing so allows us to create a better viewshed of the fort from the new visitor center as well as create green space for programming," said Jefferds.

Fort Fisher site in North Carolina to rebuild demolished earthworks and temporarily close for move to a new visitor center and museum

Planned traverses (top), reproduction guns, new visitor center, Civil War image (Fort Fisher, Library of Congress)

In a noteworthy project, Fort Fisher State Historic Site near Kure Beach, N.C., in coming months will restore a portion of earthworks that were leveled during World War II to make way for a training base airstrip. The work is in conjunction with a new visitor center.

The park will close Tuesday for a few months as workers relocate exhibits, artifacts and offices to the new 20,000 square-foot building, officials said. All site features west of U.S. 421 will be off-limits to visitors, including the museum, restrooms, tour trail and parking lot. The Battle Acre tour stop will remain available.

The Confederacy’s Fort Fisher was built on the peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, south of Wilmington. 

On Jan. 15, 1865, after a naval bombardment, the Federal army attacked from the western, river side while Marines pushed in from the northeast bastion. The fall of the “Gibraltar of the South” cut off blockade runners and the last supply line through Wilmington to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. U.S. Colored Troops were among those taking part in the attack. (Click map at left to enlarge)

The visitor center is just north of the east-west line mounds of earth known as traverses that were part of the defenses. Much of the eastern part of the fort has been claimed by the ocean. 

The earthworks reconstruction will be done by Bordeaux Construction, which also built the visitor center. The design is based on historic maps, photographs and descriptions. “The architects at Clark Nexsen are striving for authenticity while also meeting modern safety requirements,” says Fort Fisher site manager Jim Steele.

The Picket asked assistant site manager Chad Jefferds about the significant upgrade at the park. The responses have been edited for brevity.

Q.  I understand all of the park, including staffing, will not be available for the next few months, except for one trail on the east?

A. All site features surrounding the current visitor center will be off the table – especially since there will be demolition of the current visitor center and reconstruction of the earthworks. It’s a safety measure.

New visitor center is in the middle, at left is current one, traverses above them (Fort Fisher)

Q. Regarding the new visitor center/museum, I understand the bottom floor will open sometime in July, with an information desk, restrooms and a gift shop?

A. Our plan based on the current construction schedule is to have a soft opening in July. We will be able to orient visitors, have some educational programming and conduct modified guided tours as well as offer restroom facilities and the gift shop.

Q. The top floor, with all the exhibits, is expected to open around Labor Day, right?

A. This is also correct, based on the current construction schedule.

New fortifications that will be built on site (Fort Fisher)

Q. Regarding "rebuilding the fort" what exactly will that involve? I know there are new reproduction Napoleon artillery pieces.

A. Rebuilding the fort will involve the reconstruction of the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th traverses and center sally port of the land face. These were destroyed during World War II when the Army built an airstrip when the area was used for training anti-aircraft and coastal artillery units. 

With three traverses will come two gun emplacements, and (we) will have a heavy cannon in each, along with two 12-pounder Napoleons in the center sally port.

(Trails map modifications showing new traverses/ Dennis Gast)

There will be a tunnel allowing visitors to pass through the fort at the center sally port as would have been the case originally, along with bombproofs under the traverses. 

This exhibit will allow people to interact with the fort in a whole new way, as the tunnels and bombproofs have been caved in and inaccessible since the late 19th century.

Montage of Timothy O'Sullivan photos of traverses; click to enlarge

Q. Were these features prominent in a particular action at Fort Fisher?

A. Yes. Essentially everything between Shepherd’s Battery on the western end of the fort’s land face and the center sally port were the scenes of intense fighting during the US Army’s assault in January 1865. The fighting went from along the traverses from west to east and was often hand-to-hand.

Archaeological work last summer on site of traverses (Fort Fisher)

Q. New South Associates, a cultural resources management services company, last summer did archaeology work ahead of this. Can you briefly summarize what they found? Did it add any understanding to the Civil War history of the fort?

A. In preparation for rebuilding the fort, New South conducted archaeology on the airstrip targeting where the bombproof under the 8^th traverse was located. We were able to confirm it using measurements taken by US Army engineers after the battle. It definitely added a new layer to our understanding of the fort and its construction. (The team of archaeologist uncovered the remnants of a Civil War ammunition magazine and its connecting tunnels, according to the Wilmington Star-News.)

Q. When do you hope the earthworks construction will begin and conclude?

New earthworks at left, new visitor to their north, at far right (Fort Fisher)

A. Earthworks construction has technically already been underway as workers have been moving dirt from the visitor center construction site to the earthwork construction site. It will begin in earnest within the next month or so, as the concrete forms for the bombproofs and tunnel are completed and arrive on site.

Q. Can you please tell me more about the new museum? Will it be much different from the current one? Will there be any new themes or artifacts? What are the most notable items?

Click to enlarge to see features of new earthworks (Fort Fisher)

A. The new museum will be three times larger than the current one, with more room for groups, educational space, rental opportunities, staff offices, etc. The exhibit area is also larger and will be based on the experiences of the place by the people who lived, fought, and died here.

While Fort Fisher is still the focus, the approach in developing our exhibits was much more driven by people, including underrepresented groups. There will be ways for all our visitors to connect with the shared experiences of this place – something for everyone.

In terms of artifacts and notable items, we do have a few things up our sleeve to help people understand the magnitude of the bombardments that took place here in late 1864 and early 1865.

Q. What do you want Fort Fisher visitors to learn from the museum and visitor center?

A. We all want people to leave here with is a sense of the importance of this place and the shared experiences of the diverse people who have walked before us here. 

Q. Will there be a movie? If so, is it the same as now? Are there any new technology/interactive features in the new museum?

A. In the immediate (future) we will keep the same orientation film we have been using, but we will likely produce a new one as funding becomes available. Budget constraints limited the technological features immediately available, but there is room to expand our interactive features in the future. (Current exhibit, left, Fort Fisher photo)