New Hanover: History, Nature and Museums

New Hanover offers several distinct perspectives on history, water and landscapes. Fort Fisher played a defining role during the Civil War, while gardens, trails and parks offer a different focus. Museums are dedicated to art, exhibitions and railroads. When planning your trip, consider which topics interest you most: these places offer clearly distinct points of connection.

History by the Water and in the Museums

Fort Fisher kept the port of Wilmington open to blockade runners until the final months of the Civil War. They brought essential goods to Confederate armies inland. Its role in this supply line gives the historic site a specific focus: here, you can trace the connection between port traffic and supplies for the armies.

Wilmington’s Riverwalk stretches 1.75 miles along the banks of the Cape Fear River. Orange Street Landing, part of the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, is located along the Riverwalk. This brings together a clearly defined waterfront route and a historic point of interest.

The grounds of the Cameron Art Museum cover 9.3 acres. The PNC USCT Park at the museum is located within the historic Forks Road Civil War Site. These details show two different scales: the acreage describes the museum grounds, while the historic designation situates the park. This connects a museum visit with a specific site in Civil War history.

The new Cape Fear Museum features the interactive exhibition Cape Fear Stories. Among the exhibits at the Wilmington Railroad Museum is a historic, 100-year-old steam locomotive. Visitors can also step inside a restored railroad car; a children’s hall with custom-built train tables and interactive models adds to the experience. The Children’s Museum of Wilmington focuses on interactive educational exhibits and learning experiences across more than 15,000 square feet. The museums offer a range of distinct focuses: exhibitions, railroad history and interactive learning experiences.

Gardens, Parks and Trails

The historic grounds of Airlie Gardens cover more than 67 acres. More than 200 bird species have been observed in the gardens. These details describe two aspects of the site: the extent of the grounds and the diversity of bird species recorded there. If nature and birdwatching are among your interests, this combination offers a distinctive point to consider when planning your trip.

Halyburton Park covers 60 acres, 70 percent of which remains undeveloped. A 1.3-mile paved, accessible trail loops around the park and connects to the Gary Shell Cross City Trail. Both the character of the park grounds and a specific trail route are key features here.

The Riverwalk and the trail in Halyburton Park differ in length and route: the Riverwalk follows the banks of the Cape Fear River for 1.75 miles, while the paved trail loops around the park for 1.3 miles.

The waterfront landscape also offers different perspectives. The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River; protected woodlands, marshland and beach surround it. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area has an observation deck with views of Zeke’s Island. The two locations offer different geographic points of reference: views of the ocean and river, and a view of an island.

When deciding what to visit, you can distinguish nature and trail experiences from historic and museum-focused attractions. Airlie Gardens and the parks highlight gardens and landscapes; Fort Fisher, Orange Street Landing and PNC USCT Park connect places with history. The museums, in turn, offer their own focus on art, exhibitions, railroads and interactive learning experiences.

Discover more destinations: Wilmington, Currituck County, Nash, Swain County, Lee, Yadkin County, Iredell, Rowan

For the main travel overview: North Carolina.