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Matouring
Wilmington, North Carolina:
A Delightful Discovery
By Robert and Mary Haught
A Delightful Discovery
By Robert and Mary Haught
We discovered Wilmington, North Carolina on the way to another destination. We made an overnight stop in this charming Atlantic seaport city on our way to Tybee Island, Georgia, for a special wedding anniversary trip.
After checking in at our motel on Market Street (U.S. 17) we went downtown to do some exploring. As we drove along oak-lined streets dotted with magnificent antebellum homes, our first impression was, "This is really a historic city!" Almost every street has one or more historical markers. We learned later that Wilmington's 230-block historic district is one of the largest listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
We found a parking place on Third Street close to the First Presbyterian Church, a majestic tower of granite where Joseph Wilson, father of the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, served as pastor (1874-85). Preparations for a wedding were under way and we slipped inside to admire the breathtakingly beautiful sanctuary before the ceremony began.
Along our way, we took a wrong turn and came upon the battleship North Carolina, an official World War II memorial, which is a highly visible city landmark and a popular tourist attraction. The ship is a symbol of Wilmington's significant wartime role. Located on the picturesque Cape Fear River, the city played a key role in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Founded by European traders in 1739, Wilmington developed a prosperous maritime commerce industry in the 18th and 19th centuries and grew into a major port and shipbuilding center which was further enhanced by its rail service. While many cities transformed their downtown areas through urban renewal during the 1960s, Wilmington retained its older buildings and houses and utilized them in revitalizing its central district.
Today it is a hub of activity in southeastern North Carolina offering a variety of cultural and recreational activities, including fine restaurants, stylish boutiques and first-rate theater -- actress Linda Lavin established the Red Barn Studio Theatre, where she still performs and directs plays.
It is the site of many beautiful gardens, including Orton Plantation, where a thriving movie industry was begun in 1983.
Within a short distance of Wilmington are Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Southport, which attract thousands of vacationers each year.
Our all-too-brief visit whetted our appetites, so we returned to Wilmington to enjoy walking along the river, dining in some wonderful restaurants and doing further exploring. We found that Wilmington is an interesting and enjoyable place to visit any time of the year, especially in April when the North Carolina Azalea Festival is held.
We liked the area and its people so much that we bought a second home in Brunswick County, across the river, which gives us a year-round getaway place when the climate is not so great at our home in Virginia.
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