History Comes Alive with Dr. Chris Fonvielle~Each month a different topic~July 20 & August 24

Learn About the History of the Cape Fear area 

Join us for a cruise full of the history of the Wilmington and Cape Fear Area. Dr. Chris Fonvielle, our local history expert, is on board to bring you back in time. Each month he will cover a different topic starting with the early explorers, Giovanni de Verrazano being the first known European explorer to arrive in the area. Then we go to the Revolutionary War in the late 1700s and finish with the Civil War and the Battle of Wilmington in 1865.

Our July 20 Cruise title is Wilmington on the Rise. Dr. Fonvielle will talk about Wilmington’s rise as North Carolina’s largest city and most important seaport in the 1800s. Also, he will share about the impact of the arrival of the railroads; the arrival of Europeans and Northerners looking to benefit from the Lower Cape Fear’s booming economy and the coming of the Civil War. This is a cruise for history buffs and takes place on the beautiful Cape Fear River.

Our August 24 cruise will cover Blockade Runners, Blockaders and War. Dr. Fonvielle will discuss the Civil War in the Lower Cape Fear when Wilmington played a more important role in our nation’s history than at any other time. In 1860 Wilmington was North Carolina’s busiest seaport and most populated city. By 1863 Wilmington was the Confederacy’s main seaport for the blockade running trade and known as the “Lifeline of the Confederacy.” By late 1864 Wilmington was the most important city in the Confederacy.