History of Wrightsville Beach, NC
The history of Wrightsville Beach, NC is one of natural beauty, the forces of nature and a natural desire to enjoy life to its fullest. Wrightsville Beach, or New Hanover Banks as it was once called, began transferring into private ownership in 1791. Most of the early visitors were fishermen and hunters traveling to the Island by boat. Already the history of Wrightsville Beach, NC was being built on an appreciation of nature and Wrightsville’s bounty.
Sailing became increasingly popular and led to Wrightsville’s first structure – the Carolina Yacht Club, built in 1853. Later in the century, a turnpike was built to connect Wrightsville with the mainland. Shortly thereafter, the Wilmington Seacoast Railroad Company constructed a track between Wilmington and Wrightsville and development on the Island began in earnest. The rail eventually carried an electric trolley and with it thousands of visitors from NC and other eastern states. Wrightsville Beach had emerged as a popular summer vacation destination. In 1905, the Lumina pavilion was opened. The 12,500 square foot complex hosted many of the day’s top big bands and had other attractions, such as, a movie screen actually positioned over the ocean’s waters! Lumina has since given way to changing times and different visitor interests, but the spirit of its grand celebration is bright in the history of Wrightsville Beach, NC. Today, Wrightsville continues to be a favorite vacation destination for many, naturally.
The history of Wrightsville Beach, NC is told in greater detail at the Wrightsville Beach Museum. We’d encourage you to stop by there the next time you are in town.
