At the time of her commissioning on 9 April 1941, she was considered the world’s greatest sea weapon. Armed with nine 16-inch/45 caliber guns in three turrets and twenty 5-inch/38 caliber guns in ten twin mounts, NORTH CAROLINA proved a formidable weapons platform. Her wartime complement consisted of 144 commissioned officers and 2,195 enlisted men, including about 100 Marines.

During World War II, NORTH CAROLINA participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific area of operations and earned 15 battle stars. In the Battle of the Eastern Solomon’s Islands in August of 1942, the Battleship’s anti-aircraft barrage helped save the carrier ENTERPRISE, thereby establishing the primary role of the fast battleship as protector of aircraft carriers. One of her Kingfisher pilots performed heroically during the strike on Truk when he rescued ten downed Navy aviators on 30 April 1944. In all, NORTH CAROLINA carried out nine shore bombardments, sank an enemy troopship, destroyed at least 24 enemy aircraft, and assisted in shooting down many more. Her anti-aircraft guns helped to halt or frustrate scores of attacks on aircraft carriers. She steamed over 300,000 miles. Although Japanese radio announcements claimed six times that NORTH CAROLINA had been sunk, she survived many close calls and near misses - such as the Japanese torpedo which slammed into the Battleship’s hull on 15 September 1942. A quick response on the part of the crew allowed the mighty Ship to keep up with the fleet. By war’s end, the Ship lost ten men in action and had 67 wounded.

Standing with quiet dignity and majesty across the river from downtown Wilmington, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA beckons visitors to walk her decks and envision daily life as well as fierce combat that her crew faced in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.

Airlee Gardens

Established in 1901, Airlie Gardens is a valuable cultural and ecological component of New Hanover County and North Carolina history. In 1999, a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the commitment of the New Hanover County Commissioners, the cooperation of the previous owner (the Corbett family), and the support of local residents made possible the County’s purchase and restoration of Airlie’s 67-acres of gardens.

After celebrating more than a century of gardens by the sea, Airlie continues to amaze visitors with its breathtaking combination of formal gardens, wildlife, historic structures, walking trails, sculptures, views of Bradley Creek, 10-acres of freshwater lakes, and the grandeur of the 462-year-old Airlie Oak. The Gardens are known for a collection of over 100,000 azaleas and countless camellia cultivars, which bloom throughout the winter and early spring. Displays around the Airlie Oak, Pergola Garden, and other areas bloom with continuous color year-round, as the displays are changed seasonally.

Bellamy Mansion

The Bellamy Mansion is one of North Carolina's most spectacular examples of antebellum architecture built on the eve of the Civil War by free and enslaved black artisans, for John Dillard Bellamy (1817-1896) physician, planter and business leader; and his wife, Eliza McIlhenny Harriss (1821-1907) and their nine children. After the fall of Fort Fisher in 1865, Federal troops commandeered the house as their headquarters during the occupation of Wilmington. Now the house is a museum that focuses on history and the design arts and offers tours, changing exhibitions and an informative look at historic preservation in action.

Cape Fear Museum

Founded in 1898 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Cape Fear Museum is the oldest history museum in North Carolina. For an overview of the cultural and natural histories of the Cape Fear region from prehistory to the present, the Cape Fear Museum stands unsurpassed.

Civil War Collection - Acquired from Blockade Runner Museum
Civil War Collection - Original United Daughters of the Confederacy Collection
Simmons Sea Skiff Collection Henry McMillan Collection
Michael Jordan Artifacts Collection

Orton Plantation

..a historic landscape designed around the 1735 mansion and colonial rice fields overlooking the Cape Fear River. With 20 acres of secluded walking trails surrounded by hundreds of acres of rice fields, you will find Orton Plantation Gardens a wonderful place to visit.

With the 100th anniversary of the gardens approaching in 2010, extensive renovations have been made in the gardens to open up the views to the Cape Fear River and preserve the colonial rice fields. Among the predominant species in the garden are live oaks, camellias, azaleas, flowering fruit trees, daphne, hydrangeas, crape myrtles, dogwoods, and colorful spring and summer annuals. Lawns and water gardens lend variety to the lush vegetation.

Cape Fear Riverboats

The HENRIETTA III Cruises depart from Water & Dock Streets. All Cruises board thirty minutes prior to departure. Public Parking can be found at various specified locations around Historic Downtown Wilmington. Public cruises go out rain or shine, April through December, and Private Charters cruise year round.

Wilmington Railroad Museum

Near the turn of the 20th century several railroads up and down the eastern seaboard, including the Wilmington & Weldon, merged to become the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. The ACL company headquarters was located here in Wilmington.

Started in 1979 by three women and a table of ACL Railroad artifacts, the Wilmington Railroad Museum was dedicated to preserving the rich history of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the history of railroading in the southeastern United States.

Jungle Rapids

Jungle Rapids is a fun-filled family entertainment complex located in Wilmington, North Carolina. Jungle Rapids is open all year long with activities that everyone in the family can enjoy including rock climbing, go carts, miniature golf, laser tag, a huge arcade, party rooms, and much, much more.

During the summer months, the water park opens and is the perfect place to bring the family for a day of exciting water activities.

Cape Fear Serpentarium

The Cape Fear Serpentarium has been featured on Discovery TV, Animal Planet, Attache Magazine, Oxford American Magazine, the Wilmington Star News and many others. Scientists and tourists alike visit from all over the world to view animals that can be seen nowhere else. The Cape Fear Serpentarium is recognized as one of the world's foremost reptile collections.

The Childrens Museum of Wilmington

The Children’s Museum of Wilmington began in 1991 when a task force of local parents began pursuing the idea of a “hands on” learning through play center. The Junior League of Wilmington assisted in the further development of the idea.  After several years of research and study by parents, community leaders and educators, the Wilmington Children’s Museum opened its doors on October 10, 1997 on Market Street.