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Friends of Fort Fremont report 1,862 volunteer hours and renewed plans for visitor upgrades
Summary
Friends of Fort Fremont presented their 2024 annual report to the committee, reporting 1,862 volunteer hours, nearly 6,000 visitors and ongoing projects including an engineering study for gun position restoration and a West Point digital simulation project.
The Friends of Fort Fremont, a 501(c)(3) partner organization, presented its 2024 annual report to Beaufort County officials, reporting 1,862 volunteer hours, nearly 6,000 visitors from 46 states and 13 foreign countries, and ongoing plans to enhance the visitor experience.
Barney Foresight, president of the Friends of Fort Fremont, told the committee volunteers expanded history‑center staffing and outreach; the group received $12,000 in ATAX funds to support marketing. He described ongoing projects including an engineering study commissioned from Bennett Engineering to assess structural work at gun position 1 and a digital‑history partnership with the Center for Digital History at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to create a site simulation. Foresight announced a public panel on August 3 where visiting cadets and faculty will discuss the project.
Foresight said the Friends maintain an active visitor and volunteer program, listed recent educational and community events and thanked county staff—including the Land Preservation director—for partnership work. Committee members and staff praised the group's work and noted challenges with motor coach usage and the county business‑use policy affecting some tour operators.
The presentation concluded with outreach and fundraising plans, an artifact‑replication project and progress on interpretive exhibits; no county action was required at the meeting.
