History Comes Alive with Dr. Chris Fonvielle

“Wilmington Then and Now” October 19 10:00-12:00 $45

Join Dr. Chris Fonvielle Jr. Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of History at UNCW for the seventh in a series of local history-themed tours for Wilmington Water Tours. Dr. Fonvielle will discuss the city’s important role as a center for shipbuilding and military training and as a war zone during World War II. The postwar years saw the creation of the Azalea Festival; the Azalea Open Golf Tournament; and the establishment of Wilmington College (UNC Wilmington today); and the departure of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad the city’s largest employer at the time. How would Wilmington businessmen fill the void? The end of the century witnessed the opening of Interstate 40 that spurred tremendous growth in Wilmington and surrounding counties that continues to this day. Dr. Fonvielle will wind up the tour with more of Wilmington’s history mysteries. This is a 90 minute tour; $45. Boarding 15 minutes prior.