Wrightsville Beach Historic Square

Wrightsville Beach Museum of History

The Myers Cottage, circa 1909, is home to the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History. The historic cottage was moved over a mile from its former location on Lumina Avenue to the Wrightsville Beach Historic Square. Visitors who visit the museum will learn more about the history and culture of our beach community.

The museum is designed to reflect how life was lived in a typical summer cottage at Wrightsville Beach. Step into a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen outfitted with typical furnishings from the 1940s; see a twelve-foot model of 1910 Wrightsville Beach—complete with trolley; and take some time to relax on a front porch rocking chair and dream of days gone by.

Ewing-Bordeaux Cottage

The Ewing-Bordeaux Cottage, circa 1924, also calls Wrightsville Beach Historic Square home. The house was donated to the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History and was moved across the Causeway Bridge about a mile from its original location at 405 North Lumina Avenue. The building serves as the permanent home of the Waterman Hall of Fame, which celebrates the island's water sports and coastal professions that are so important to our beach community. 

Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center

The Historic Palmgren-O’Quinn House is a beach cottage built in 1946. When the NC Coastal Federation was looking for a new home, former Wrightsville Beach Mayor Robert O’Quinn and his wife, Catherine, donated the cottage. It was moved about a mile to its current location on the Wrightsville Beach Historic Square.

The cottage is home to the Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center, where visitors can learn all about coastal wildlife and habitats. Get your hands on local animals at the touch tank and learn through "Around the Scenes" tours highlighting rain gardens, salt marshes and native plants.

Wrightsville Beach Visitors Center

The Bender-Howell Cottage, circa 1940, was relocated from its original location on South Waynick Boulevard more than two miles to the Wrightsville Beach Historic Square. It houses the Wrightsville Beach Visitors Center. The cottage also serves as the home of the Wrightsville Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Self-Guided Historic Tours

There is more to discover beyond the Historic Square. Take yourself on a self-guided tour of the island's historic homes with the historic homes map provided by the Town of Wrightsville Beach.

On select weekends throughout the year, the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History installs their Loop Through History exhibit signs along the 2.45-mile Wrightsville Beach Loop.