Page 16 - Wilmington NC VG 2020

HISTORY

• The Burgwin-Wright Museum House & the largest naval bombardment of the
Gardens offers special candlelight tours 19th Century.
where costumed interpreters reveal the • Explore the South’s largest earthen fort,
rituals of bygone times. waterside walking trails, and exhibits at
Fort Fisher State Historic Site and Museum.
1840-1859 • See re-enactors relive history at the annual
THE ANTEBELLUM YEARS Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher
In 1840, the addition of the Wilmington in January.
and Weldon Railroad boosted the already
active port of Wilmington to become the 1940-1970
largest city in North Carolina. Between 1850 THE 20TH CENTURY
to 1860, some of the city’s most impressive In the 1940s, the Wilmington shipyard
structures were built, several which allow built 243 ships and the city was a hub of
tours and host events. World War II home front activities. One
• Take a guided tour of the Latimer House of the only remaining USO buildings still
(c. 1852), a true gem from Wilmington’s stands in Wilmington today and serves as a
Antebellum housing boom. community arts center that houses a small
• On Mondays, go behind-the-scenes at one WWII home front heritage museum. Come
of the oldest theaters in the country with a aboard the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA,
guided tour of Thalian Hall (c. 1858). one of the most decorated battleships
• Bellamy Mansion (c. 1861) is a meticulously of her time. Walk the nine decks of the
preserved historic home. Hear live music restored WWII-era battleship, which are
on the lawn during the Jazz at the Mansion open to the public and interpret the daily
Concert Series. life and combat the crew faced. The half-
mile SECU Memorial Walkway surrounds
1861-1865 the Battleship and honors each branch
THE CIVIL WAR of the military.
The largest land-sea battle of the Civil • Seasonal events aboard the Battleship
War was fought at Fort Fisher, near Kure NORTH CAROLINA include the Battleship
Beach. Wilmington was protected by Fort Memorial Day Observance and The
Fisher, which was the last Atlantic Coast port Voracious Rare Beer Festival in October.
of the Confederacy, until it fell to the • Explore never before seen sections of the
Federal troops on January 15, 1865 during ship during a Hidden Battleship Tour.

Fort Fisher State Historic Site

16 www.WilmingtonNCVisitorGuide.com • 866-534-0845