The city of Wilmington, North Carolina is a key place in the country's World War II history. Its shipyards, funded by the federal government, produced hundreds of vessels to support the war effort. More than 20,000 people worked in Wilmington's defense industries. For African Americans and women, the war created new experiences and opportunities even as it revealed ongoing injustice and discrimination. As Americans worked to help win the faraway war, its consequences also came home in the form of prisoner-of-war camps like the one located in downtown Wilmington. Because of this rich history, Wilmington was designated the first American World War II Heritage City in September 2020.
This article showcases three of the many fascinating places that comprise Wilmington's WWII heritage: the Hannah Block Historic USO; the Post Office located at 152 Front Street; and Robert Strange Park, the site of a German POW camp.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
