Kure Beach in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
32 Pounder Naval Cannon
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 24, 2025
1. 32 Pounder Naval Cannon Marker
Norfolk was abandoned by the United States
Banded and converted
at Richmond into a 6 Inch Rifle
Mounted at Fort Caswell North Carolina
Dismounted by exploding magazines
when the Confederates evacuated that fort
in January 1865
Presented by US War Department
1902
Erected 2024.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1865.
Location. 33° 58.312′ N, 77° 55.034′ W. Marker is in Kure Beach, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It can be reached from Fort Fisher Boulevard South (U.S. 421) 0.1 miles north of Battle Acre Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is under the Visitor Center exterior overhang. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1610 Fort Fisher Boulevard South, Kure Beach NC 28449, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and on the Cape Fear Coast. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally,
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fort Fisher & the Civil War (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named 32 Pounder Naval Cannon (a few steps from this marker); "These are North Carolina's pets." (about 300 feet away); A Desolate Spit Of Land (about 300 feet away); 1st Battle Of Fort Fisher - December, 1864: A "Fiasco" (about 300 feet away); The Whole Garrison Has Gone To Gardening (about 400 feet away); I Knew That Desperate Work Was In Store (about 500 feet away); "[We] rushed forward like tempest, through the stockade and up the parapet" (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kure Beach.
Other markers no longer nearby. Blockade-Running (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 24, 2025
2. 32 Pounder Naval Cannon Marker
And accompanying gun
More about this marker. This marker dates to 1902 and was originally erected on the lawn of the state Capitol building in Raleigh. It was removed from its original location along with the gun it describes in the aftermath of the George Floyd riots in 2020. The marker was re-erected at Fort Fisher on the green near Traverse 6, but was moved to this location under the overhang in 2024 as part of completing the visitor center. There is an identical marker on a different gun about 15 feet away.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This link directs the reader to the marker's previous page at its old location.
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 24, 2025
3. 32 Pounder Naval Cannon Marker
The marker is on the opposite side of the gun display seen here nearest the camera.
Photographed by Hunter Ingram, Star News, circa June 1, 2020
4. 32 Pounder Naval Cannon Marker
This is the previous location of this marker and its associated gun, from a Wilmington Star News article dated 29 June 2020. The marker described here is on the gun mount to the left, and is not visible in this photograph. Its "twin" is visible on the gun at right.
Photographed by Carol Highsmith, June 20, 2017
5. 32 Pounder Naval Cannon Marker
This is the original location of the marker, viewed in 2017, photo from the Library of Congress. There are two guns and two markers; this marker entry is about the gun and marker to the right of the statue in this image.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 17, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
