Our State....

FORT CASWELL:
AN HISTORIC BAPTIST RETREAT

“Blessed is the Lord, for he has shown me
that his never failing love protects me like the walls of a fort!”
                                            --Psalm 31:21 TLB

Once a symbol of war, Fort Caswell has been a peaceful oceanfront retreat situated in a historic Civil War fort for more than 50 years. The United States constructed the fort at the tip of Oak Island in 1825 and, in 1833, it was named for the first governor of North Carolina--Revolutionary War hero Richard Caswell. The fort was considered an outstanding feat of engineering, with a pentagonal structure and two-story citadel surrounded by both a dry moat and wet moat.

During the Civil War, the fort changed hands four times. Then it fell into ruins before being reconstructed in the early 1900s and becoming an important military post during both World Wars.

“Since 1949, when the Baptist State Convention bought the property from the federal government, Fort Caswell has been an instrument of peace,” says Director Richard Holbrook. Today, the fort provides facilities for programs, activities, and retreats for Baptists.

Those interested in Fort Caswell’s history are invited to visit after making arrangements in advance. A driving tour map highlights the many original fortifications and facilities that still stand. Along with the brick wall remains of the fort and seven cement cannon batteries, visitors will find former barracks and officers' quarters, a hospital, bakery, horse barn, firehouse, prison, and more.

To plan a visit, contact the North Carolina Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell by calling 910-278-9510, or visit www.fortcaswell.com.