Friends of Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson

08/13/2026

Hello everyone, Christos here! It’s been a while since I last made contact here on the Friends of Brunswick Town page. First and foremost, I want to thank the Friends of Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson for this incredible opportunity to participate in the Jennifer Gabriel-Powell memorial internship. It was truly an honor to participate in such a wonderful program. My adoration for Brunswick Town has only deepened throughout my time spent at the site, and I look forward to returning to the area in the upcoming weeks with ECU’s field school.

One of my deliverables for this project, as you may have already seen in past weeks, is an AI representation of the wharf. This proposed image is probably the closest the AI can get without causing any distortions along the way, based on suggestions from Jim McKee and others at the site.

With my internship now over, I have returned to ECU, where I completed my 3D model of the Wharf 1 site. However, I view this 3D model as a stepping-stone. Alongside my AI reconstruction attempts, I will continue working on the 3D model as a passion project, as it can always be improved. Additionally, I plan to create a museum-piece model of the colonial wharf for the visitors' center using Lincoln Logs, a tactile piece that visitors of all ages can interact with during their visits to Brunswick/Fort Anderson.

For now, this has been Christos, signing off.

07/31/2026

Hey everyone! While working on the 3D model for my project, it seems I’ve hit a bit of a bump in the road. My current equipment setup is having some difficulty generating the model I was hoping for, so it looks like I’ll have to wait until I return to ECU to properly run it.
If archaeology has taught me anything, it’s that knowing how to adapt and pivot is crucial. In the meantime, please enjoy this draft concept video showing wharf construction, which I’ll continue tinkering with as the project progresses.
Cheers!
– Christos

07/21/2026

Hello everyone, Christos here, reporting to you from Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson! Since I last wrote, I was able to experience one of the lowest tides I’ve witnessed at Wharf 1, and I wanted to share it with the rest of you. When looking at the images I have provided here, you can see a large concentration of rocks. These are referred to as ballast stones, which were used in colonial wharf construction to provide stability—think of it like a counterweight system. What I find most interesting about Wharf 1 is that, by looking at the way the ballast stones are situated in their current context, you can begin to understand the orientation of Moore’s wharf and how it was constructed along a northwest alignment. I was able to collect a multitude of photos of the site and will begin to use these photos to render a 3D model for the site itself in the weeks to come. Until next time!

07/16/2026

Hey folks, Christos here! I wanted to share an update on the progress of my project. With the help of generative AI, I created several draft concept images showing what a colonial wharf at Brunswick Town may have looked like during the 18th century. These images are not intended to be definitive or fully accurate reconstructions of Brunswick Town’s colonial wharves. Instead, they offer a fun and accessible way to begin visualizing what these structures may have looked like based on the information gathered so far. Generative AI technology is still evolving, and our most reliable understanding of the design and construction of these wharves comes from archaeological research and field surveys. Stay tuned—there is more to come!

07/08/2026

Hello everyone! My name is Christos Darras, and I am honored to serve as the Summer 2026 Jennifer Gabriel-Powell Memorial Intern here at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson Historic Site. I am also a graduate student in East Carolina University’s Maritime Studies program, where my research focuses on Brunswick Town’s colonial waterfront, especially Wharf 1, also known as Roger Moore’s Wharf. Since the wharf area is not currently accessible to visitors, my internship project aims to bring this important part of Brunswick Town’s history into view. Through mapping, documentation, and digital reconstruction, I hope to show visitors both the wharf’s current condition and what it may have looked like during its 18th-century use as part of this once-active colonial port. WELCOME CHRISTOS!

06/09/2026

Notice: The Tapestry of Time and the 300th Anniversary events have been postponed until a later date.

02/25/2026

Can you believe it? No one has yet applied for this summer internship? It is such a cool opportunity. Help us get the word out!

02/22/2026

A great day followed by a great night! Thanks to those who celebrated America’s rebellion with us! SPT OKI Magazine we saw you there!

02/19/2026

Thanks Southport Oak Island Chamber of Commerce-Welcome Center for the opportunity to get the word out about Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site and The Friends of Brunswicktown/Fort Anderson! Stay tuned for where the dynamic colonial and Civil War duo will show up next!?!

02/13/2026

Send this to an emerging history (graduate student) buff today! Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site

Are you a graduate student who wants to work at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson this summer? We would love to have you! Applications are out now! Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site