Kure Beach, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/16/2012 -- Some tourists might pass through Kure Beach (http://www.visitkure.com) without realizing that one of the Civil War’s turning points and the East Coast’s oldest fishing pier are in their backyard. A North Carolina beach destination popular with those looking to come and unwind, Kure Beach is a treasure trove of fascinating history. From the Civil War era to the present, Kure Beach’s fingerprints are everywhere.

The Civil War At Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Constructed in 1861 and a stronghold during the Civil War, Fort Fisher kept Wilmington’s port open for business to blockade runners ferrying supplies inland to the Confederate army. Toward the end of the war, the fort was the only remaining open supply route to Gen. Robert E. Lee’s forces. Two heated battles were fought here in 1864 and 1865, with the latter preceding the end of the Civil War by a mere three months. Today, at Fort Fisher State Historic Site, visitors can tour the battleground and view a scale model of the battle in the Civil War Museum (http://bit.ly/rjYiL0).

The area will observe the N.C. Civil War Sesquicentennial during “The Lights of the Great Armada: 147th Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher from Saturday, Jan. 21 to Sunday, Jan. 22. The annual event draws a large crowd and never fails to wow visitors young and old with live cannons and more.

Kure Beach Fishing Pier
The Kure Beach Fishing Pier is the oldest fishing pier on the entire Atlantic Coast. L.C. Kure constructed the first rendition of the pier in 1923, which stood only a year until sea worms destroyed its wooden pilings. The pier was rebuilt in 1924, only to be demolished by the winds of Hurricane Hazel in 1954. A third rendition of the pier, though at times tested by other hurricanes, still stands today and serves as a benchmark of Kure Beach history (http://bit.ly/rzxT6f). Today, it attracts both adults and children looking for a chance to catch “the big one” at the beach (http://bit.ly/qamU3T).

World War II
During World War II, Fort Fisher became the firing range for Camp David, a military base northeast of Wilmington. At the height of the war Fort Fisher was fitted with automatic cannons, machine guns and anti-aircraft training facilities. Today, visitors can still take a look at one of the remaining bunkers located behind the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, which was inhabited by the famous “Fort Fisher Hermit” for nearly 17 years (http://bit.ly/rjYiL0). The N.C. Military History Museum at Fort Fisher houses artifacts from the Civil War and World War II, as well as other military items.

Kure Beach Today
Kure Beach became officially an incorporated town in April of 1947. Since then, the town has seen both population and visitation growth, but remains family-friendly as ever, with welcoming with warm, clean sands and a variety of seaside fun for all ages (http://bit.ly/ldliNN) – not to mention plenty of educational and historic sites. The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher is a must-see with its 235,000-gallon saltwater tank, educational programs, and exhibits on loggerhead sea turtles, megalodon sharks, a rare albino alligator, and more.

For more information on the history of Kure Beach and its vivid history, go to http://www.visitkure.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
The Lights of the Great Armada: 147th Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher
Saturday, Jan. 21 -Sunday, Jan. 22
The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher offers a variety of weekly programs and events.

N.C. Jazz Festival
Friday, Feb. 3-Sunday, Feb. 5 (in nearby Wilmington)

Wilmington Wine & Chocolate Festival
Friday, Feb. 3-Sunday, Feb. 5 (in nearby Wilmington)

For all event information, visit http://bit.ly/rKA7k4.

NEW MEDIA CONTENT: Kure Beach on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KureBeachNC

Kure Beach on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/KureBeachNC

About Kure Beach, N.C.
Kure Beach offers visitors an inviting, small-town seaside retreat on North Carolina’s beautiful coast. This naturally beautiful setting with easy access to the big attractions the area has to offer is the perfect place to bring the family year-round to unplug and unwind, enjoy a more relaxed pace and reconnect with what really matters. For more information, go to http://www.VisitKure.com or call (800) 631-1460.

Jake Potter
MMI Public Relations
(919) 233-6600
jake@mmipublicrelations.com
http://twitter.com/mmipr
http://www.mmipublicrelations.com