So Much to See and Do

Most Wilmington area attractions of 1983 are still alive and kicking, and are at least as interesting now - or more so - than they were 25 years ago. Then, as now, Wilmington’s primary attractions were related to its waters, its beaches, and its rich historical and cultural heritage.

Fondly referred to as the “Showboat,” Battleship North Carolina, moored across from downtown, already had attracted nearly six million visitors by 1983. Wilmington’s art museum back then was located in the former St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church on Orange Street downtown and was known as St. John’s Museum of Art. After the art museum moved to its new building in 2002, the Children’s Museum of Wilmington purchased and expanded the old facility considerably.

The year 1983 also saw the production of Wilmington’s first major motion picture, Firestarter, which led to the production of three more films in 1984 and the development by Dino DeLaurentiis and Frank Capra, Jr. of Wilmington’s large film studio complex on 23rd Street, now known as EUE/Screen Gems Studios.

A new master plan for the expansion and renovation of Wilmington’s absolute gem downtown, Thalian Hall, was developed in 1983. Work began on the $5 million project in 1988, and by 1990 the magnificent Thalian Hall/City Hall complex reopened.

In the 25 years since 1983, both the downtown Historic District and the National Register of Historic Places in Wilmington have continued to expand as new areas were added and many properties have been saved from demolition and/or have been restored. This is a continually ongoing effort.

Out on Pleasure Island, the North Carolina Marine Resources Center displayed about 75 or so different creatures, and was preparing for the installation of its new shark tank in 1985. The aquarium and its exhibits back then were much smaller and not nearly as impressive as the spectacular North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher which opened its newly expanded and renovated facility in 2002 with more than 2,500 animals from the ocean and rivers.

So many attractions 25 years later, so little time to visit them - unless you’re a resident, and even then, it seems like we can’t quite find time to get around to all of them. Must have something to do with our relaxed way of living down here - there’s always tomorrow, and tomorrow’s probably going to be a nice day, too, so what’s the rush?