History of Wilmington

[nicholas]

Didn't think any of these pics fit into any of the other threads.  Stopped by the Wilmington Railroad Museum on my vacation in Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach last week.  For those unaware, Wilmington has a pretty notable railroad history, and the Wilmington to Weldon (just south of VA border) line was for a time the longest rail line in the world.  Eventually through a series of acquisitions, Wilmington became the headquarters of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad until 1956, when ACL moved to Jacksonville, FL.  (ACL merged with the Seaboard Coast Line railroad a few years later, which was then essentially diverged into Amtrak and CSX).  Most of the tracks and buildings from Wilmington's railroad heyday have unfortunately long since been removed, but the museum is housed in a freight railroad warehouse that was built in 1883, and some of the nearby Cape Fear Community College buildings have design elements intended to pay homage to buildings that came before them (the CFCC Union Station building sits on the site of the former Wilmington passenger station, and the design is essentially a modern interpretation of what part of the station looked like).

Even if you are like me and not a huge railroad enthusiast, I would definitely recommend stopping by here on your next trip to Wilmington.  Lots of cool things to see and do here including seeing the inside of a steam locomotive, freight railcar, and caboose.  Also a really neat model railroad inside the museum which includes recreations of part of downtown Selma, Wilmington, and Wilson.

Edited October 4, 2021 by nicholas

[KJHburg]

Here are some photos of the Bellamy Mansion I took from August.  (and yes I love history and Wilmington has the largest historical district in NC by far)  Wilmington has it going on with its history, growing economic base, large  university now, the growing port and of course the beaches and history.    Check out that multiple seat outhouse!

 

[KJHburg]

Historical Burgin Wright house built before the USA was a country in the early 1700s.  

[rancenc]

Take in the sites of historic and present day Wilmington!

https://www.ourstate.com/your-ultimate-guide-to-a-wilmington-getaway/

[rancenc]

One of the oldest synagogues in North Carolina reopens.

https://www.starnewsonline.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2023/10/20/temple-of-israel-in-wilmington-reopens/71260548007/

[rancenc]

History in Wilmington!

https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/local/2024/04/19/cape-fear-hotel-in-downtown-wilmington-was-built-100-years-ago-in-1924-history-orton-david-brinkley/73065240007/