Celebrating Memorial Day

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, the "unofficial" beginning of the summer.  Amid the beach trips, relaxing, and the fun of a holiday weekend, I like to celebrate the real meaning of the day.

According to wikipedia, "Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces."  One way I like to do this is to visit historically significant locations in my area.  Here is a list of places in the Wilmington, NC, area I have or would like to visit:

Fort Fisher Visitor Center

Fort Fisher
Kure Beach, NC
Fort Fisher was built during the Civil War as a way to protect the port of Wilmington from the Union forces.  After the fort fell to the Union, the supplies couldn't go out to the Confederate armies.  Without supplies it was impossible to keep going with momentum and, due to this and other reasons, three months later the war ended.

It also played a role in World War II.  According to the NC Historic Sites website, the Wilmington area "underwent a major expansion in the shipbuilding, chemical, and petroleum industries" during WWII.  After Camp Davis was built, anti-aircraft training began at Fort Fisher.  This led to further development at the fort, which you can read about on the NC Historic Sites website.

All of this contributes to the historical significance of Fort Fisher.  The Fort Fisher State Historic Park includes a visitors center, a civil war museum, earthen fortification walls (man-made mounds), a reconstructed and operational cannon, a confederate memorial, and more.  There is also the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area which includes hiking trails, fishing, boating, a beach, four wheeling, etc.



Moores Creek National Battlefield
Currie, NC
The Moores Creek National Battlefield is part of Revolutionary War history.  Some of the Loyalist were marching to meet up with Redcoats and head toward the North Carolina coast.  Some of the Patriots heard of their coming and positioned themselves at the Moores Creek Bridge with muskets and cannons.  As the Loyalists were headed to cross the bridge, the Patriots attacked and the Loyalists surrendered.  According to the Moores Creek National Battlefield website, "This battle marked...the first significant victory for the Patriots in the American Revolution."

My family and I went to this battlefield for Memorial Day in 2013 and it was a great place to visit.  There were people dressed up from the 1700's, with tents displaying guns, clothing, etc. from that time period.  There were games set up for the kids, like hitting a hoop with a stick.  There's also a cannon that they fire on special occasions.  It's loud, but very cool to watch.  This national park has a visitors center, monuments, trail, the Moores Creek Bridge and a picnic area.
 
You can find out more information about the historical significance of Moores Creek at the Moores Creek Bridge page on the History Channel's website.

Battleship North Carolina
Wilmington, NC
I've previously written how visiting the battleship is one of my family's favorite things to do on Memorial day.  The Battleship North Carolina's historical significance is from World War II.  It went to Pearl Harbor where it was damaged.  The battleship's website has a lot of information, but not quite as much (I think) as the visitors center.  Visiting the battleship is informative, exciting, and a great way to spend Memorial Day.

The Battleship North Carolina has a special Memorial Day Observance starting at 4pm on Memorial Day.  Check out their website for more information.

Operation Bumblebee Observation Tower -
 Picture from Pinterest

Operation Bumblebee
Topsail Beach, NC
Operation Bumblee was a secret Navy program to develop surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles during the 1940's.  The location on Topsail Island became the permanent location for testing and launching of these missiles in 1947.  One of the famous remnants from Operation Bumblebee are the observation towers that still remain. The Topsail Historical Society runs a Missiles and More Museum, where you can see model and original missiles from the Operation, a full size Talos guided missile, and a film that chronicles the history of the program.

Visiting local historically significant locations is one of my favorite ways to spend Memorial Day.  What are some things you like to do to celebrate?

The Battleship North Carolina

For Memorial Day yesterday, my family and I took a trip to the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington.  This is such a great place to visit!  If you ever visit Wilmington, plan a few hours to tour this great ship.  It is chock-full of history.

In the visitors center there is a video that shows the history of how the battleship came to Wilmington and how it was maneuvered into its current position.

Main deck guns, anchor chains and flags.

We spent a lot of time going into the various rooms and checking out all the different guns on the main deck before heading down under it to the second deck.  To help visitors understand how the sailors used the spaces, there are pictures and descriptions of what happened in a lot of the areas.

 

The battleship contains a lot of places to explore and see, which makes this such a great place to visit.  You can tour the kitchens, sleeping areas, food storage areas, sick bay, laundry, post office, etc.  However, on this trip my family just toured the second deck and one or two above the main deck.

After touring the battleship, travel across the bridge to have lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants along the river in downtown Wilmington.

Visiting the Battleship North Carolina is one of our favorite things to do on Memorial Day.  It's a wonderful way to remember those who have served our country. 

Thanks for reading!
Stacey

Intern's Visit to Ashville, NC

Last month our Intern, Jody Zimmer, headed up to the mountains of North Carolina looking for another adventure. What he found was America's Largest Home, The Biltmore Estate. Here are a few pictures and some interesting facts about George Vanderbilt's home in Asheville, North Carolina.

The Biltmore Estate

The Biltmore Estate is over 175,000 square feet, making it America's largest home.

Pond Reflection of Biltmore Estate

Several Hollywood movies have been shot at the Biltmore Estate, including Richie Rich and Forrest Gump.

Biltmore Estate Interior Garden*

There are 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, 34 bedrooms, an indoor pool, bowling alley and more at the Biltmore Estate.

The Banquet Hall*

During a 2007 poll, Biltmore Estate was chosen as the 8th favorite structure in the United States.

George Vanderbilt's Bedroom*

The Biltmore Estate draws in one million tourists each year.

Biltmore Estate Walled Gardens

* Pictures of the inside of The Biltmore Estate are not allowed. The interior picture you see above are take from The Biltmore Estates travel website.