Wilmington NC

Today we visited Wilmington, NC.      It's about a 90 minute drive north of here.

This glass sculpture is entitled  "Southern Hospitality".      It depicts the Venus Flytrap, a carnivorous plant native only in the boggy areas within a 75 mile radius of Wilmington.      I find it very interesting that this plant we have all played with in nurseries is only native to this one small area.   Unfortunately, we got distracted and totally forgot to visit the local park that has some growing, so no pictures of the real thing.

During our walk around town, we saw several interesting signs......

Wilmington is a rarity in the coastal South in that it was totally spared during the war.  As a result, they have an incredible number of homes that are on the Historical Listings.   Homeowners can buy a brown plaque to display on their house if it is over 75 years old.    The plaque gives a history of the home.  If the home is over 100 years old, they purchase a black plaque. Visitors are encouraged to go onto the homeowners front porch to read the plaques.  

We were told there are many homes that qualify for plaques and that are on the Listings, but do not display their plaques because they prefer their privacy.   I can certainly understand that.  You can see the plaque on this house just to the left of the front door.

Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States, lived in Wilmington from 1874 to 1882 at the Presbyterian Manse while his father served as the minister of the city’s First Presbyterian Church. We were on a tour and I didn't respond quick enough to get a photo of the house, but this is the yard he played in.

Whistler's Mother also grew up in Wilmington.  Anna Mathilda McNeill gained world-wide notoriety by doing nothing but posing for her artist son, James Whistler. Today her portrait hangs in the Musee d’Orsay in the center of Paris.

Time to head back to the beach....................