Fort Caswell Historic District, Artillery fort at Oak Island, North Carolina, United States.
Fort Caswell Historic District is an artillery fortification on Oak Island comprising approximately 760 acres with 43 buildings and 23 structures. The site extends across the meeting point of Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, offering a large historical property with multiple buildings and archaeological features.
The fort was built in 1836 as a pentagonal fortification to protect Wilmington's harbor. It witnessed significant Civil War actions before being destroyed in 1865 as the conflict ended.
The North Carolina Baptist Assembly has operated this site as a religious retreat and conference center since 1949. Visitors can see how the community uses and maintains these historic grounds for spiritual gatherings.
The grounds are accessible and spacious, allowing visitors to explore multiple buildings and structures at their own pace. Plan time for an extended visit since the property covers extensive land with various points of interest throughout the site.
An explosion in January 1865 using approximately 100,000 pounds of powder during the fort's destruction was reported to be heard from great distances away. Archaeological investigations in 2013 and 2015 uncovered intact subsurface remains including citadel walls and water-filled moat structures.
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