Fun things to do in Wilmington

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The monstrous Cape Fear Memorial Bridge was constructed over the Cape Fear River near downtown Wilmington in 1969. This is the highest bridge in North Carolina, and it features a steel vertical lift that can raise a 100 foot section of the road surface some 135 feet. This 3,000 foot span carries U.S. Route 17 Business, U.S. Route 76, and U.S. Route 421. The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge also carries some 46,000 cars each day.

the first baptist church was established in 1808. the present first baptish church was built in 1870. this beautiful early english gothic revival building was designed by architect samual sloan. the first baptist church is one of several architecturally significant churches in downtown wilmington.

the j.w. murchison house was built in 1878 in the second empire style. the house was built by james walker, a wilmington contractor. the j.w. murchison house is one of scores of beautiful post civil war homes in downtown wilmington. today the murchison house is a bed & breakfast inn. for more information see the attached web site.

located on the grounds of st. james church is st. james cemetery. this historic cemetery is the final resting place of many of wilmington's influencial citizens. thomas godfrey, the author of "the prince of parthia" is buried here as well as major george washington glover, and cornelius harnett. st. james cemetery is worth a visit for those interested in american history when in downtown wilmington.

this massive mansion was built in 1847. the john a. taylor house was designed by architect benjamin gardner. this house was once the wilmington armory and now is part of the wilmington first baptist church. the john a. taylor house is one of several historic homes on market street in downtown wilmington.

this beautiful brick building was built in 1892. the courthouse was designed by architect a. s. eichberg in the queen anne style. the new hanover county courthouse is one of a number architectually significant public buildings in downtown wilmington. today the new hanover county courthouse is home to the wilmington visitor center. a good first stop on a visit to wilmington to get maps and information for the attractions of wilmington and the cape fear river region.

st. james church is one of several historic and architecturally significant churches in downtown wilmington. st. james church was founded in 1729. the original st. james church was built in 1751. during the revolutionary war british general cornwallis' troops occupied st. james church. the current neo-gothic st. james church was built in 1839. in 1865 st. james church was a hospital during the union occupation of wilmington. st. james church is well worth a visit when in downtown wilmington.

this interesting confederate civil war memorial was funded by gabriel boney in 1927. this unique memorial is located on a median on south 3 rd street (US 17). this memorial is one of very few privately funded confederate memorials in the south.