One of the Confederacy's largest and most technically advanced forts, Fort Fisher was the last stronghold of the Confederate army. Following the defeats at Savannah and Mobile, Confederate general Robert E. Lee depended solely on Fort Fisher for supplies. President Lincoln recognized that to end the war, Fort Fisher would have to be taken. After withstanding two of the heaviest naval bombardments of the Civil War, the fort finally fell to Union forces in what was the largest land-sea battle in U.S. history until World War II. The unconditional Confederate surrender came only 3 months after the fall of Fort Fisher. The visitor center exhibits artifacts of that era, and there's an audiovisual program as well. Costumed tour guides welcome visitors, and living-history events are depicted during the summer.