Area Attractions

With so many attractions worth visiting in Wilmington and the surrounding area, visitors could stay busy for weeks exploring what makes this place special. Both indoors and outside, there is something for everyone here.

Battleship North Carolina

WATER PLAYS A KEY ROLE

From spectacular sandy beaches on the Atlantic Ocean to the relatively tranquil Intracoastal Waterway, the majestic Cape Fear River to the lakes and ponds that are ubiquitous in southeastern North Carolina, we live, work, play, fish, swim, surf, snorkel and relax in close proximity to the water.

There are a number of ways to gain an understanding of the role water plays in the economy. A good place to begin is to see what can be found in historic downtown Wilmington.

BATTLESHIP USS NORTH CAROLINA

One way to understand the role water plays is to visit Wilmington’s most noticeable attraction, the Battleship North Carolina, which sits across the Cape Fear River from downtown’s Riverfront Park.

North Carolina is beginning its 60th year here and is even more beautiful than before, having gone through a major restoration to prepare it for the celebration of its 50th

PHOTO BY JESUS ORTIZ

anniversary in Wilmington that took place in 2011.

USA Todays’ 10Best enlisted a panel of North Carolina travel writers and photographers to nominate their favorite state attractions in 2018. The battleship was voted the second best attraction in North Carolina by 10Best readers.

Completed in 2018, the new cofferdam and half-mile long, 10-foot wide memorial walkway surrounding the ship enable visitors to see the ship’s entire hull for the first time.

Scheduled by the Navy to be scrapped, a successful statewide campaign to save the North Carolina began in 1958. In 1961 the ship was moved from New Jersey to its present location.

The third in a line of naval vessels dating back to 1820 that were commissioned in North Carolina, the ship participated in every major battle in the Pacific during World War II and won 15 battle stars before being decommissioned in 1947. Those who have toured the battleship are surprised that gunners were able to operate in the cramped quarters in the gun turrets. How anyone could sleep in the stacked bunks is another mystery.

The battleship serves as both an attraction to be toured and a memorial to North Carolinians who served in the military

during WWII, especially the more than 10,000 who died in service to their state and nation.

A new North Carolina was christened in 2007 and commissioned right here in Wilmington on May 3, 2008. This fourth North Carolina is one of the U.S. Navy’s fast-attack nuclear submarines of the Virginia class.

theArtWorks

At 38,000 square feet and with approximately 900 area parking spaces, theArtWorks is the largest space for artists and event venue in the area. The facility is located in the vibrant SouthFront District of Wilmington, at 200 Willard Street just a mile from downtown. theArtWorks is an art village showcasing Wilmington’s vibrant visual, literary and performing arts. theArtWorks provides art studios, gallery space, educational opportunities and an event venue with the mission to foster a creative environment for artists and enhance Wilmington’s cultural community through art.

More than 50 artists actively create and sell their art through studios in theArtWorks. The range of mediums for sale includes original paintings, sculpture, jewelry, glass, pottery, metalwork, decorative arts, literary arts and music.

The gallery and studio artist galleries are open on Friday 11-6 and Saturday 11-5 as well as the fourth Friday of the month Wilmington and New Hanover Arts Council Gallery Walk, from 6-9 p.m. Open additional hours for special events and by appointment.

AIRLIE GARDENS

Established in 1901 on the east side of Wilmington near Wrightsville Beach, the exquisite Airlie Gardens features breathtaking formal gardens, wildlife, historic structures, walking trails, sculptures, lakes and the 468-year-old Airlie live oak. Over 100,000 azaleas and countless camellias bloom throughout the winter and spring, making the gardens a colorful, year-round horticultural delight.

New to Airlie Gardens is the Butterfly House, which should be a must-see for all visitors. Stepping into this fabulous addition is sure to lift the spirits of all who enter it. Airlie Gardens should be seen throughout the year to fully appreciate the beauty of the seasonal changes.

Very near Airlie Gardens is the fascinating New Hanover County Arboretum, exhibiting seven acres of plants that grow in the region along with emerging trends in plants for this locale. With a large staff of trained volunteers, the Arboretum provides suggestions and advice on plants suited for the coastal environment.

MUSEUM OF THE BIZARRE

Museum of the Bizarre is located on Orange Street and was featured on the TV show Mysteries at the Museum. The museum, which opened in early 2015, has an ever-growing collection of Civil War items, movie props and local history items. And that’s before you get to all of the bizarre oddities.

See the Crystal Skull of Knowledge,

the Fort Fisher Mermaid, Alexander Hamilton’s hair, Goat Brothers heads, a Bigfoot imprint, Houdini’s Ouiji board, a chupacabra hand, unicorn horn, mirror maze, laser vault challenge, serial killer wall and more. Each Halloween, Museum of the Bizarre puts on a spooky haunted house that’s a must-see for fright fest lovers. Museum of the Bizarre is also a great bargain: Admission is just $3.

STROLL THROUGH WILMYWOOD

Visitors enjoy seeing the real locations and actual sets where some of Wilmington’s biggest movies were filmed. Iron Man 3, and We’re the Millers, along with a host of others, are among the dozens of movies shot on location in Wilmington. Following the success of locally filmed Safe Haven in 2013, two other movies based on novels by Nicholas Sparks, The Longest Ride and The Choice, were filmed in Wilmington.

Fans are also interested in seeing where the cast and crew of Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill spent their time. In fact, the cast of One Tree Hill still enjoys visiting Wilmington for reunions that draw fans of the show from all over the country.

Other recent series and movies filmed here include: Good Behavior, Swamp Thing, Reprisal, Halloween Kills, The Georgetown Project, The Lost Boys, USS Christmas, Scream, Hightown, I.S.S., Static, Along For The Ride, Delilah - Season 1 and Welcome to Flatch - Season 1, among many others.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS

The oldest restored museum house in southeastern North Carolina is the Burgwin-Wright House, which was built in 1770. John Burgwin, a merchant, planter and treasurer of the colony of Carolina, erected the house on the foundation of an old jail. Temporarily occupied by Lord Cornwallis before his fateful departure for Yorktown, this splendid Georgian-style house contains authentic furnishings and is surrounded by seven beautifully terraced gardens. Demonstrations of colonial open hearth cooking are presented in the kitchen one Saturday per month.

The largest and most visible house museum is Bellamy Mansion, a spectacular example of antebellum architecture built between 1859 and 1861 by enslaved artisans and carpenters.

The property, occupied by Dr. John Bellamy, his wife and nine children, consists of the 22-room mansion, the beautifully restored gardens and recently reconstructed carriage house. Slave quarters, among the most intact in the South according to architectural historian Catherine Bishir, have been restored and are an important part of the home’s history.

Bellamy Mansion now focuses on history and the design arts, with several changing exhibitions and special events each year.

Any visitor to downtown Wilmington should take the time to stroll through the downtown area. There are historic homes throughout downtown, many with plaques on the front showing when they were built. Take the time to stroll up and down the streets to see the varied architecture. Third, Fourth and Fifth Streets are lined with one interesting home after another. the Army Corps of Engineers at a cost of $80,000. It operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week and served as the off-duty destination of hundreds of thousands of armed forces personnel that trained in the area. Four charitable organizations affiliated with the USO and a host of volunteers kept it running. At the height of World War II, attendance reached 63,000 per month, with such events as big band dances, plays, music recitals and weekly radio broadcasts featured.

The City of Wilmington purchased the building when the USO ended its full-time operations. Over the years, the building’s use has evolved so that today, it serves as a major cultural resource for New Hanover County.

Classes are offered in a variety of visual and performing arts disciplines, and the building is home to the Orange Street Potters. The building also hosts crews for movies, television shows and commercials. In addition, rehearsal space is provided to local nonprofit theater companies, and plays are staged in the auditorium.

Managed by the Thalian Association since 1994, the building is listed in the

SPECTACULAR THALIAN HALL

Wilmington’s absolute gem, Thalian Hall, is now 163 years old, and looking grander than ever after a much-needed facelift completed in time for the theater’s 150th anniversary celebration.

New seats, new lights and a new heating and air conditioning system are among the renovations that make Thalian Hall so much more pleasant to visit and enjoy.

The centerpiece of the renovation is a beautiful chandelier, affectionately named “Alice” in memory of the wife of the person who donated it. It earns an ovation from the appreciative audience when it is raised before each performance begins.

Visitors are invited to take a self-guided tour during the daytime so that they can see why regular theater patrons are so excited about the renovated facility.

HANNAH BLOCK USO

National Register of Historic Places. It is now known as the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center and was renamed to honor one of Wilmington’s most distinguished civic leaders and World War II veterans.

CAPE FEAR RIVER SIGHTSEEING TOURS

A boat cruise on the Cape Fear River in Wilmington is a wonderful way to spend the day.

Cape Fear Riverboats offers two types of sightseeing tours: nature tours and $12 historical sightseeing tours. All tours are narrated by the captain and are one to four hours long. Be sure to bring a camera as there are endless opportunities for memorable photos.

Historical sightseeing cruises are an hour long and are a great way to learn about the area. You’ll hear about the adventures, misfortunes, and accomplishments of the unique cast of characters that have, since Giovanni da Verrazzano first surveyed the area nearly 500 years ago, created the city we love today. You also will see the ports from a unique view and witness the massive size of modern day container ships as they load and unload.

Black River Nature tours begin in May, are four hours long and feature an expert on local wildlife, natural history, and cultural heritage. This nature tour takes guests 15 miles up the Cape Fear River to the wilds of the Black River, one of the cleanest waterways in the state. Nature enthusiasts and photographers alike will enjoy the slow-moving, ambercolored waters, framed by spectacular swamp forests highlighted with seasonal wildflowers and old-growth cypress trees.

New Henrietta

The newest addition to the Cape Fear Riverfront is the new Henrietta. The new Henrietta is certified to carry 118 passengers and has a climate controlled dining room of 84 seats. Captain Carl Marshburn and his son, Daren, cruised the new Henrietta from Alabama to the Wilmington riverfront.

FLIP N FLY

Jump. Swing. Climb. Flip. Fly. Does an indoor park with 28,000 square feet of wall-to-wall trampolines sound like fun? How about trick walls, trapeze swings, a ninja course or black light dodgeball with your closest adrenalineseeking pals? Flip N Fly isn’t just a place to go, it’s Wilmington’s destination for high flying, no-fear fun. Let the little ones safely zoom around in their own kids court while you and the other big kids let loose and take flight.

Scattered throughout the downtown area are a number of historically significant churches. Among these is Chestnut Street United Presbyterian Church.

Built in 1858, the church has had a number of noted African-Americans as members.

Constructed during the 1860s, Saint Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church was used by Union forces as a stable. It burned in 1894 and was replaced by the present church.

Saint James Episcopal Church has the most historic congregation in Wilmington; its parish was established in 1729 and the original church was built in 1751. Used by the British as a stable during the Revolutionary War, the original building was razed in 1839. The current structure was built in 1840 and used as a hospital by the Union forces during the Civil War. On the east and north sides of the church are the old burial grounds where notable persons of the period are interred.

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, built in 1869, was the first Episcopal church for African-Americans in North Carolina.

Temple of Israel, a unique Moorish style structure, was built in 1876 and is the oldest Jewish synagogue in North Carolina. The Temple is one of fewer than 30 congregations that endure in its original 19th century structure. Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church was constructed in 1908 in the Spanish Baroque architectural style. With a congregation dating back to 1760, the present First Presbyterian Church was built in 1928, replacing three structures built in the 1800s and destroyed by fire. Having roots tracing back to as early as 1690, the First Baptist Church congregation was organized in 1833 and the church building was completed in 1870. The 197-foot spire was blown down by Hurricane Fran in 1996 and immediately replaced.