Discover Military and Maritime History in Kure Beach, NC

Named among the “11 Beaches in the World Where History was Made” by USA TODAY, Kure Beach is a top destination for history buffs and outdoor lovers alike. From the South’s largest earthen fort to a century-old fishing pier, immerse yourself in Kure Beach’s storied past.

Site of the Largest Land-Sea Battle

Visit Fort Fisher State Historic Site to explore the site of the largest land-sea battle of the Civil War. Meander along a scenic trail past Fort Fisher’s remaining earthworks, along with a restored palisade fence and an impressive reconstruction of a 32-pounder seacoast gun at Shepherd's Battery. View interpretive exhibit panels that contextualize one of North Carolina’s most consequential battle sites. All tours of the grounds begin in the Visitor Center, which features an audiovisual program that presents the history of the fort.

Dive to a Historical Shipwreck

Located 700 yards offshore near the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, The Condor is North Carolina's first Heritage Dive site. Charter a dive and venture down to the wreckage to see the former blockade runner’s full lower hull, engines, paddle wheels and boilers. Historians believe The Condor is one of the best-preserved Civil War blockade runners – and this underwater treasure makes for an unforgettable dive that showcases the area’s rich maritime heritage for experienced and novice divers alike.

Visit a Century-Old Fishing Pier

Originally built in 1923 by the son of Kure Beach founder Hans Kure, the historic Kure Beach Fishing Pier is one of the oldest fishing piers on the Atlantic coast. Over the years, the wooden pier has been worn by weather and restored several times, transforming into the 711-foot pier enjoyed by today’s visitors. The pier is open 24 hours a day from Good Friday through the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and there is no fee to walk on it. For a nominal fee, bring your rod or rent gear on-site to join a long legacy of anglers who have reeled in a fresh Kure Beach catch.

Explore a Storied WWII Bunker

While hiking Fort Fisher Recreation Area’s Basin Trail, visitors can find a WWII-era concrete bunker, former home to the Fort Fisher Hermit, Robert Harrill. His presence attracted tourists after he set up residence in the abandoned bunker in the 1970s and survived on food harvested from nearby salt marshes and oyster beds. The trail weaves through a maritime forest and salt marsh and ends at an overlook of the Cape Fear River with Zeke's Island Reserve visible across the water.

Discover Military and Maritime History in Kure Beach, NC

Site of the Largest Land-Sea Battle

Dive to a Historical Shipwreck

Visit a Century-Old Fishing Pier

Explore a Storied WWII Bunker

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Discover Military and Maritime History in Kure Beach, NC

Site of the Largest Land-Sea Battle

Dive to a Historical Shipwreck

Visit a Century-Old Fishing Pier

Explore a Storied WWII Bunker

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