North Carolina State Parks

Fort Macon

P.O. Box 127, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 · (252) 726-3775 · E-mail

Fort Macon offers public access to the surf, sun and sand of the Crystal Coast—as well as a historic landmark. Located at the eastern end of Bogue Banks, one of a series of barrier islands along the North Carolina coast, the park is surrounded on three sides by water—the Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort Inlet and Bogue Sound. This area of undisturbed natural beauty is the perfect place to explore salt marches and estuaries vital to the coastal ecosystem.

The park is also home to a Civil War fort with a history as intricate and unique as the waterways of the sound. Visit Fort Macon to enjoy the land's natural beauty and soak up some history.

Exhibits and fort tour

Explore history at Fort Macon State Park! There is something to discover in each of the fort's 26 casements (vaulted rooms). Exhibits and displays acquaint you with the fort's history, and restored quarters offer a look into the lives of officers and soldiers.

Admire the fort's powder magazines, counterfire rooms with cannon emplacements and wide moat that could be flooded to protect the fort during a siege. The fort features a historic cannon, two cannon replicas, a hot shot furnace and a bake oven.

Join a guided tour of the fort or conduct your own following the guide available at the bookstore. The fort is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed Christmas Day. Historic reenactments are often held on the fort's inner court or parade ground.

For more information visit: North Carolina State Parks - Fort Macon State Park