Southport: Maritime History and Waterfront Trails

Discover Southport through its maritime history, historic tours, and waterfront locations. The attractions offer a range of perspectives: exhibitions tell the story of people’s relationship with the coast and river, guided tours explore individual historic buildings, and self-guided tours lead to sites connected with the city’s history. Views of the rivers and waterfront landscape are also among the experiences described.

Maritime History on the Cape Fear River

The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport is located at the confluence of the Cape Fear River, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean. Its exhibitions tell the story of the region’s people and their relationship with the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River. The museum collects, preserves, and interprets material culture related to the maritime history of the Lower Cape Fear region. In this way, it focuses both on people and their connection to the water, and on the objects and records of this history.

Maritime history extends beyond individual locations: the Cape Fear River was important to the American colonies and later to the United States. The history of fishing also includes thriving menhaden fisheries along the coast. Later, shrimping became a defining livelihood for local families. These topics place the museum’s interpretation in a broader regional context without conflating the different phases of the fishing industry.

The museum offers programs and events year-round for people of all ages and backgrounds. Those interested in maritime history will therefore find not only exhibitions, but also programs that appeal to a range of age groups and backgrounds.

Historic Sites and Guided Tours

The second floor of the Old Brunswick County Jail Museum includes two cells, a tour route, and the living quarters of the jailer and his family. A visit includes a tour led by knowledgeable docents. Fort Johnston – Southport Museum and Visitor Center also offers tours led by knowledgeable docents. Visitors can also get maps, brochures, and other helpful information about the area there.

These offer two different visits with guided interpretation: the Old Brunswick County Jail Museum focuses on the cells and the jailer’s family living quarters, while Fort Johnston also provides information about the area through its Visitor Center. If you’d like to explore Southport’s historic sites, you can take these different focuses into account as you plan.

Explore the City’s History on Tours

Four self-guided historic tours of Southport are available through the free PocketSights mobile app. The Southport African American Heritage Tour focuses on a specific aspect of history, taking visitors to 17 sites connected with the city’s African American history. The City of Southport’s walking tour mainly covers the historic area near the waterfront. The tours differ in their subject matter and in whether you choose a docent-led tour or a self-guided one.

The walking tour also highlights live oak trees. They are considered remarkable for their age, size, beauty, historical significance, or ability to thrive in the harsh coastal environment. The trees thus connect nature and local history in one topic: their significance may stem from a range of characteristics, rather than a single feature.

The Old Smithville Burying Ground has been the final resting place of 1,093 people for more than 200 years. Living Voices events are typically held there on the weekend before Halloween; the timing may vary. The cemetery and its event offer a different focus from tours of historic buildings or the city: here, the emphasis is on the site as a burial ground and on the recurring event.

River Views, Riverwalk, and Parks

The Salt Marsh Boardwalk offers views of the Cape Fear River, the Elizabeth River, and broad stretches of Southport’s waterfront landscape. Southport’s Riverwalk runs along the Cape Fear River. Waterfront Park also offers views of the Cape Fear River. These descriptions refer to different waterfront locations; they should not be combined into a single route.

Waterfront Park has a public fishing pier and covered picnic tables. The park thus combines views of the Cape Fear River with places to fish and take a break at the tables. Southport’s public city parks are open from sunrise to sunset. Southport also offers boating opportunities.

Southport therefore offers several different themes to consider when choosing your stay: maritime history at the museum, guided and self-guided tours, city history with a range of themes, as well as river views and parks. You can plan according to which of these aspects matters most to you.

Discover more destinations: Bald Head Island, Holden Beach, Shallotte, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Calabash, Sunset Beach, Bolivia.

For the broader travel overview: Brunswick.