Historical & Cultural

Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area
118 Riverfront Rd.
Kure Beach, NC 28449 (get map)
910/458-6723
www.ftfishermilrec.com
Our purpose here is two-fold. First, we are a Recreation Area, designed to provide a pleasant, relaxing get away for authorized Department of Defense personnel. Additionally, during non-summer months, we support official training in a partnership with the on-site North Carolina National Guard Training Center.

Fort Fisher State Historic Site
1610 Fort Fisher Blvd. S.
Kure Beach, NC 28449 (get map)
910/458-5538
www.nchistoricsites.org/fisher/fisher.htm
The tour trail is approximately one-quarter-mile long and encircles the remains of the fort on the river side of the highway. Exhibit panels containing photos and text are located at many locations along the tour trail. A restored gun emplacement is located on top on one of the batteries. The visitor center and rest rooms are fully accessible.

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
900 Loggerhead Road
Kure Beach, NC 28449 (get map)
866/301-3476
910/458-8257
www.ncaquariums.com
The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, is one of three state-owned aquariums. Renovated in 2002, the facility continues to add new exhibits, programs and activities. The "Exotic Aquatics" gallery features lionfish, spiny lobsters, dart frogs, Hawaiian fishes, and a living Pacific coral reef. Other exhibits showcase the State's diverse aquatic environments. More than 2,500 animals are on display, including alligators, venomous snakes, sharks, stingrays, moray eels, seahorses, sea turtles and colorful reef creatures. Daily live animal presentations, feedings, and dialogues with divers in a large ocean tank. Touch pools, films, gift shop, gardens, food and refreshments. Crafts, canoe trips, camps and more. Beachfront on US Hwy 421, between Kure Beach and the state ferry terminal. Open 9am-5pm, 362 days.

NC Military History Museum
118 Riverfront Rd
Kure Beach, NC 28449 (get map)
910/251-7325
Indoor/outdoor exhibits feature artifacts and military vehicles representing all branches of service and previous wars. Archives and gift shop. Hours: Fri.-Sun. 12pm-4pm. Closed for holidays. Located near Fort Fisher at the National Guard Training Center, Kure Beach. Free, donations welcome.

NC Underwater Archaeology Center
1608 Ft. Fisher Blvd
Kure Beach, NC 28449 (get map)
910/458-9042
www.arch.dcr.state.nc.us/ncarch/underwater/underwater.htm
The Underwater Archaeology Branch of the NC Division of Historical Resources operates this small museum with exhibits on dive sites and maritime history dating from prehistoric to the Civil War and the present.