Things to do in North Carolina Coast, North Carolina Coast: The Best Military Museums

At the dawn of the American Civil War, the Confederacy took control of land in southeastern North Carolina near one of the two outlets to the Atlantic Ocean from the Cape Fear River. Fort Fisher was the largest earthwork fortification in the Confederacy and was constructed to protect this vital opening. Ships running the Federal blockade of the port of Wilmington, known as blockade runners, supplied necessary goods to Confederate armies inland. By late 1863, the supply line through Wilmington was the last remaining supply route open to Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The Federal Army and Navy attacked Fort Fisher December 24, 1864. After two days of fighting with little headway, Federal commanders concluded that the fort was too strong to assault and withdrew their forces. However, they returned for a second attempt on January 12, 1865. For two and one-half days, Federal ships bombarded the fort on both land and sea face. On the fifteenth, more than 3,300 Union infantry, including the 27th U.S. Colored Troops, assaulted the land face. After several hours of fierce hand-to-hand combat, Federal troops captured the fort that night. The Confederate army evacuated their remaining forts in the Cape Fear area, and within weeks Union forces overran Wilmington. Once Wilmington fell, the supply line of the Confederacy was severed, and the Civil War was soon over. This site has been declared national historic landmark. Along with a restored palisade fence, approximately ten percent of the fort still stands. Guided tours, outside panel makers and museum exhibits provide a historical point of reference. Shaded by gnarled live oaks, a scenic trail leads tourists from the visitor center past the gigantic earthworks and around to the rear of the fort. Visitors are invited to tour the remains of the fort's land face featuring an impressive reconstruction of a 32-pounder seacoast gun at Shepherd's Battery. Fort Fisher State Historic Site is located in Kure Beach on what was then known as Federal Point and today as Pleasure Island.

Steeped in Island History and located on the south end of Topsail Island, this museum has it all; from Pirates to the threshold of modern space technology!! Exhibits include: Operation Bumblebee, Camp Davis, Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP), Pirates, Island wonders, and an international shell collection you have to see to believe! Discover the interactive children's area and find your own sharks tooth in the outdoor fossil dig located behind the Talos missile display.

The CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center showcases the State’s largest historic artifact and state of the art exhibits. The remains of the CSS Neuse and the associated artifacts were relocated to a fully enclosed and climate controlled facility at 100 N. Queen Street on June 23, 2012. After years of planning and hard work the museum held its grand opening on March 7, 2015. The CSS Neuse was a Confederate Ironclad that was used in the Kinston, NC area during the Civil War. The ship was built at White Hall (now Seven Springs, NC) in 1862 and was completed in Kinston in 1864. The Gunboat was involved in the Battle of Wyse’s Forks (just outside of Kinston headed toward New Bern) before being scuttled by her own crew on March 11, 1865. The ship was recovered from the Neuse River by a few local men with help from the community between 1961-63. The State of North Carolina acquired control of the CSS Neuse in 1964 and the site officially opened in 1966 at 2612 W. Vernon Avenue.

The North Carolina Military History Museum is equipped with Indoor and outdoor exhibits that feature artifacts and military vehicles representing all branches of service and previous wars. The museum has archives and a gift shop for the family military history buff. Located near Fort Fisher at the National Guard Training Center in Kure Beach.