Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson State Historic Site receives $75,000 grant from National Park Service

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has been awarded a grant by the National Park Service to conduct an archaeological assessment at Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson State Historic Site.

The $75,000 grant will fund an up-to-date, all-encompassing study of the site’s waterfront where a significant colonial port once operated.

Brunswick Town was established in 1726 as North Carolina’s colonial seat of government. To date, only a quarter of the town has been archaeologically excavated.

Previous archaeological investigations have been both limited and intermittent, preventing a comprehensive understanding of the historic artifacts and resources on the property.

“Not since the archaeological investigations of Stanley South in the 1960s has a comprehensive assessment at the colonial capital and port of Brunswick Town been possible,” said State Archaeologist Chris Southerly. “With the modern tools and technology available, this grant will allow us to collect new and consistent data to better manage, steward, and protect this invaluable resource.”

“Particularly as we reflect on Brunswick Town’s complex and important role in the founding of this country, we are excited by the possibilities of what this full assessment may reveal,” said Michelle Lanier, director of North Carolina Historic Sites. “We are extremely grateful that the National Park Service recognizes the urgency of this work and is investing in the long-term preservation of North Carolina’s cultural heritage.”