Fort Fisher
National Historic Landmark

Fort Fisher

Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
66000595

About this property

Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865. The fort was located on one of Cape Fear River's two outlets to the Atlantic Ocean on what was then known as Federal Point or Confederate Point and today is known as Pleasure Island. The strength of Fort Fisher led to its being called the Southern Gibraltar and the "Malakoff Tower of the South". The battle of Fort Fisher was the most decisive battle of the Civil War fought in North Carolina.

Location

Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina
33.96877, -77.92396

Categories

MILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Fort Fisher

This page lists Fort Fisher. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Joy Lee Apartment Building and Annex
Industrial
5.1 mi
Brunswick Town Historic District
Listed
5.2 mi
John N. Smith Cemetery
Listed
6.2 mi
Orton Plantation (Boundary Increase)
Listed
6.4 mi
Brunswick County Courthouse
Industrial
6.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Fort Fisher
1865Civil War
0.3 mi
Battle of Fort Fisher (First)
1864Civil War
0.4 mi
Second Battle of Fort Fisher (Naval Component)
1865Civil War
0.4 mi
First Battle of Fort Fisher — Naval Bombardment
1864Civil War
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fort Fisher listed on the National Register?

Fort Fisher was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Fort Fisher?

Fort Fisher is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Fort Fisher a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Fort Fisher has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Fort Fisher?

The period of significance for Fort Fisher is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1861.

Can I research the history near Fort Fisher?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fort Fisher will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in New Hanover County

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North Carolina history

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North Carolinahistory ›

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