Wilmington is a city with some recognizable names attached to it. Not only is it located in the region of Cape Fear, the river’s name popularized in both the original film and the remake of the same name, but it’s the hometown of possibly the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan. Geographically, Wilmington is attractively set between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean.
This thriving port town has a long history in the region, being established in the early 18th century. Migrants to the area didn’t come far, with most settlers making the move from South Carolina. The other prominent demographic was the population from Barbados, but they were here as some of the earliest examples of slave labour in the United States. A notable slave, Thomas Peters, escaped slavery to help found Sierra Leone in western Africa.
These days racial tensions aren’t really an issue in Wilmington, but way back in 1898, a violent assault was carried out by whites on an African-American printing press for printing material they deemed to defame their paleface sensibilities. Hundreds of blacks were killed or run out of town. Today these kinds of incidents are part of local history, and the town enjoys a peaceful and prosperous existence.
Highlights
The USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial: This famous battleship, which saw action at battles as notorious as Pearl Harbor is now moored in Wilmington and is open to tourists.
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher: This marine science museum is a great place to take the entire family for a day’s education and amusement.
Corporate Canvas Art Gallery: Wilmington’s biggest art gallery gives away its motives with the name, but worth a visit nonetheless.
Airlie Gardens: Former privately owned gardens now open to the public with many rare flowers on show Tuesdays through Sundays.