Going to be in Oak Island, NC, next week. May or may not have a half day or a day to myself while other folks are off doing incomprehensible things like cow pasture billiards or shoppe-ing. Wondering if anyone here knows of interesting museums, places where there's some admirable ironwork, or just generally things of interest to a blacksmith, bladesmith, general tinkerer? Natural history, ships, trains...? I've done a little googling without results. Quite possibly I'm not supposed to be looking for a way to get off the beach. ;)

 

Thanks,

 

Steve

There are a few historic homes, churches and buildings left in Wilmington, but I do not know of any particularly interesting ironwork in town, off the top of my head. There are wrought and cast fences of all ages scattered about, somewhat like Charleston, but on a smaller scale. Oh, and a railroad museum, but I understand its pretty small. http://www.wilmingtontoday.com/attractions/

 

There are 3 state historic sites in the area, Fort Fisher being my favorite. (There is an aquarium for everyone else to look at.) Brunswick Town is a ruin, and the Battleship NC is a tourist attraction. This will link you to the state website.

 

http://www.nchistoricsites.org/fisher/exhibits.htm

Thanks for the links! Maybe I can get away for a bit one day. Thanks!

 this is a cool little place it is a a little out of the way but worth the trip they have a wagon that was used to carry the blocks from Georgia  to  Washington  dc to build the Washington monument the wood has been re done but it is the original iron. The museum was set up after the owner read the foxfire books and set out to collect old hand tools. There was an old factory in the same town that made swords for the solders in the civil was but it is long gone,  http://www.visitnc.com/listings/view/42730/cowan-museum

 

I see you will be traveling from Alabama Charleston south Carolina would be a better side trip to see Philip Simmons work