Wimington

The wonderful history, culture and economy of North Carolina's southern coast would not exist without the area's proximity to the water. While the ocean gets top billing in terms of geographical attractions, it was the existence of a relatively narrow river that gave rise to successful European settlement here. The Cape Fear River, a deep, often fast-moving body of water, begins at the confluence of the Haw and Deep rivers near Greensboro, meanders through Fayetteville and empties into the Atlantic Ocean 200 miles south of its source. With a compelling history and dangerous reputation, the Cape Fear River has always been a major influence on the formation and evolution of the city of Wilmington, 30 miles upstream from the open ocean.

Wrightsville Beach

one of the two barrier islands on the Cape Fear Coast, is a place unlike most other coastal areas. Established in 1899, the island was once accessible only by water. Today Wrightsville Beach is a popular destination for weekend getaways and annual vacations for generations of families who return year after year.

A relaxed and friendly atmosphere prevails in this beach community that radiates a village-style charm. A clean and uncluttered five-mile stretch of white sand and sparkling water invites a day of beachcombing, swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and pier or surf fishing for a truly pleasurable experience.

USS North Carolina

The use of sea power to protect its shores and to project the power of a nation beyond those boundaries has been used since the early days of the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans. Since ours is an island nation bounded by two oceans, naval heritage, within the maritime heritage context, has been an important element in our Country since its founding.

Over the centuries, maritime nations have developed major classes of seagoing combatants that have enabled them to effectively carry out the protection of its shores or the projection of power. Whether it was the ship-of-the-line or battleship, in their respective eras, these major combatants reflected the leading edge of technology of the period and the will of the nation.

The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA's heritage can be traced to a more recent event. In 1906 the British Admiralty commissioned a totally new design, DREADNOUGHT. With an increased number of larger guns in her main battery, a more capable secondary battery, larger designed displacement, better armor and increased speed, DREADNOUGHT became the prototype for subsequent battleships built by other nations, including the United States.

Historically, and until most recently, the most capable class of major combatants, or capital ships, in the U.S. Navy were named for States in the Union.

While the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is a very visible, and powerful, example of a capital ship, her lineage is equally impressive. The first ship to bear the name NORTH CAROLINA was a ship-of-the-line in the 1820s. Following her was a Confederate ironclad in the 1860s, a World War I-era armored cruiser, a never-completed post-World War I battleship, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA of World War II fame, and in 2007 a nuclear attack submarine.