Fort Dobbs State Historic Site Prepares to Start Construction on New Visitor Center

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will start construction on a new $2 million visitor center on Monday, April 28. This will be the first major improvement at the site since the opening of the reconstructed fort in 2019.

At nearly 3,700 square feet, the new facility will be more than five times larger than the current visitor center. In addition to a contemporary exhibit gallery, modern restrooms, and paved parking, the new building will have an expanded gift shop, lobby, and office spaces for staff. The Friends of Fort Dobbs, the site's non-profit support group, will oversee the project. Construction is expected to take 6-8 months with the grand opening anticipated by early 2026.

The current visitor center is housed in a log cabin built by the Fort Dobbs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) as a meeting house in 1941. Though important to the site's preservation story, the cabin is ill-equipped to serve the site's thousands of visitors and school children each year.

"Thanks to the tireless advocacy of the Friends of Fort Dobbs, there will be a purpose-built visitor center at this historic site for the first time," said Site Manager Scott Douglas. "I am thrilled to have more space and a proper museum gallery in which to tell the larger story of North Carolina in the French and Indian War!"

The site will continue to serve the public while work is underway. However, there will be periods of closure and times when tours are limited or unavailable. Visitors are encouraged to monitor Fort Dobbs' website and social media accounts for operations updates and pay attention to directional signage at the site, as access routes and parking areas will shift for construction. The site will not be able to accommodate large groups traveling by bus once work begins.

About Fort Dobbs
Situated in the Piedmont region of North Carolina near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Fort Dobbs interprets the French and Indian War (1754-1763) or Seven Years War. As the only state historic site associated with the period, it represents the state's link with a global war for empire that crossed five continents, lasted nearly a decade, and sowed the seeds for independence. The site is located at 438 Fort Dobbs Rd, Statesville, NC and is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Special events and living history weekends are offered throughout the year. It is part of the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.