Cape Fear Museum

The Cape Fear Museum of History and Science in Wilmington, North Carolina is the oldest public museum in the state, founded in 1898, and serves as the primary regional repository for the history of the Cape Fear River valley from prehistoric times through the present day. Located at 814 Market Street in downtown Wilmington, a short walk from the historic Riverwalk, the museum occupies a purpose-built facility that is accessible on foot from several major Wilmington attractions. The permanent collection spans natural history, Native American cultures, colonial and Revolutionary-era Cape Fear settlements, Civil War Wilmington — including the fall of Fort Fisher in January 1865, the final closing of the last Confederate seaport — and the region's African American history. The Michael Jordan Discovery Gallery is one of the museum's most popular exhibits, featuring memorabilia, a life-size recreation of his childhood bedroom (Jordan grew up in Wilmington), and an interactive basketball challenge. A natural history section covers the regional ecology of the Lower Cape Fear including the pocosins wetlands and longleaf pine savanna ecosystem. Rotating special exhibitions address regional topics in greater depth. The museum's science programming serves school groups throughout southeastern North Carolina. Admission is modest and the museum makes an excellent wet-weather activity or a cultural complement to exploring the Wilmington waterfront.