On Saturday, June 21, the sound of cannons will once again ring out at Fort Fisher State Historic Site. After a construction project caused a two-year hiatus, the site’s annual summer artillery program returns with a bang. Fort Fisher is administered by the N.C. Division of State Historic Sites within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The event runs from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. The schedule for the day features 19th-century artillery demonstrations at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., as well as ongoing living history demonstrations and displays. At 1:30 p.m., Col. Wade Sokolosky (Ret.) will lecture on his book “North Carolina’s Confederate Hospitals, 1864-1865: Volume 2.” A full event schedule is available on Fort Fisher State Historic Site’s website and social media channels.
Admission to the event is free. Parking is available at the visitor center, located at 1610 S. Fort Fisher Blvd., in Kure Beach. A food truck will be on site during the program.
Known as the Gibraltar of the South, Fort Fisher protected the port of Wilmington during the American Civil War until it fell to U.S. forces in January 1865. In 1962, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina — its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.