Friends of Fort Fisher Receives $75,000 Grant from the PNC Foundation to Support Immersive Educational Resource

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has received a $75,000 award through a grant from the PNC Foundation to Friends of Fort Fisher. The funding will support the enhancement of the exhibit gallery in the Fort Fisher State Historic Site's newly constructed visitor center, which opened to the public in October and is expected to attract more than 1 million visitors annually.

"The PNC Foundation's investment in Fort Fisher will bolster visitors' opportunities to better understand one of North Carolina's most significant and powerfully complex spaces of memory. We are deeply grateful to the PNC Foundation for this generous grant," said Michelle Lanier, director of the Division of State Historic Sites.

The grant will support the continued development and enhancement of the exhibit gallery, with structural features that will allow staff to customize and rotate exhibit layouts. The funding will also support the creation of traveling exhibits, including the curation and preparation of artifacts, as well as the research and development of text panels to enhance the visitor experience.

"As one of North Carolina's most popular tourist attractions, Fort Fisher Historic Site represents an important vehicle for educational enrichment and local economic impact. All of us at PNC are committed to contributing to the economic vitality of New Hanover County and the Cape Fear region, and this grant underscores that commitment," said Jim Hansen, PNC regional president for Eastern Carolinas and Southeast territory executive.

In addition to showcasing permanent and changing exhibits, the exhibit gallery will provide a flexible space to host programs such as lectures and hands-on activities for young visitors, offering new educational opportunities for the community.

About the PNC Foundation
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The Foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through PNC Grow Up Great®, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $500 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life. For more information, visit PNC Foundation.

About Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Fort Fisher is a North Carolina State Historic Site that offers visitors an in-depth look into the history of one of the most significant military sites of the American Civil War. Located near the Cape Fear River, Fort Fisher played a crucial role in the Confederacy's defense of the port of Wilmington, which was vital for maintaining supply lines. Today, the site features a variety of engaging tours, exhibitions, and educational programs that explore the fort's strategic importance, the fierce battles fought there, and the daily life of soldiers stationed at the fort. The site is located at 1610 Ft. Fisher Blvd. South Kure Beach, NC 28449E. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/fort-fisher or call (910) 251-7340.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.