Fort Fisher Celebrates New Exhibits
August 2002
KURE BEACH, N.C. — A diamond-encrusted sword
and a 16-foot interactive map of the final Battle of Fort Fisher
are among the main attractions of the first new exhibits in
30 years at Fort Fisher State Historic Site.
The exhibit includes a saber handed over to Union forces by
the Confederates at the fort's formal surrender and a sword
used by Charles Fisher, the Confederate colonel from Salisbury,
N.C., for whom the fort was named.
The new exhibits were celebrated at a June ribbon cutting at
which Rod Gragg, author of Confederate Goliath, The Battle
of Fort Fisher, spoke, plus music, artillery firings, guided
tours and book signings by Gragg and Mark A. Moore and Chris
E. Fonvielle Jr.
The Tiffany sword was presented to former Union Gen. N. Martin
Curtis, who led the successful Union assault on Fort Fisher,
by his former troops in October 1865. The fort has an exhibit
on Curtis and the fort's commander, Col. William Lamb. Curtis's
Medal of Honor received for bravery shown at Fort Fisher will
be displayed until early July.
Built by enslaved African Americans and Confederate troops,
Fort Fisher protected the port of Wilmington during the Civil
War. Using a new interactive fiber optic map, visitors may now
easily track the final Union attack in January 1865. Five thousand
lights and sound effects take viewers into the thick of battle.
Although much of the sand fort washed away long ago, the state-of-the-art
map makes the fighting, artillery strikes and postbattle fireworks
come alive. A reproduction 32 pdr. is a new addition to the
fort's Sheppard's Battery.
The sword of Confederate Col. Charles Fisher reminds visitors
of an officer who gave his life at the Battle of First Manassas.
Also on display is the cavalry saber Confederate Maj. James
Reilly handed over to Union Capt. E. Lewis Moore when he surrendered
the fort. Years later, Moore returned the saber.
Several years in preparation, the new exhibits at Fort Fisher
include "Blockade-Runners," "Fort Construction,"
"Weapons and Technology," "Preparing to Fight,"
"The First Assault," "The Second Assault"
and "Ladies of Ft. Fisher."
Reproduction Civil War soldier uniforms, dioramas of the building
of Fort Fisher and the final battle, which included black Union
troops, and the fort during World War II are also new. An audio
program features diary entries from various soldiers stationed
at Fort Fisher.
A digital interactive display on Civil War flags enhances reproduction
flags of the period in the lobby. A renovated audiovisual room
and reception area, an enlarged gift shop and an addition with
new rest rooms complement the new exhibits.
The exhibits have been made possible through the support of
the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee Inc. For information contact
Mary Cook at (919) 733-7862, mary.cook@ncmail.net
or the site's web page at www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/fisher/fisher.htm
