Cannons and other artifacts were recovered from two shipwrecks: the Fortuna, a Spanish privateer that blew up in 1748, and the Bald Head Rudder Wreck, an early 1800s merchantman. These are preserved for display at Brunswick Town Historic Site and Bald Head Island. In cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers, surveys are being conducted for underwater sites in preparation for the Wilmington Harbor improvements. Over 600 sites have been recorded in Brunswick County as part of the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office's statewide inventory, including seven Civil War ships which became part of a multi-county shipwreck historic district.
Southport's architectural survey resulted in the nomination of a historic district and publication of the survey results. This survey was a cooperative local-state project accomplished with grants and staff assistance from the Historic Preservation Office.
Since 1979 Brunswick County has received a $2,700 federal subgrant for an architectural survey of Southport and $58,750 for the Bald Head Lighthouse. The Bald Head Lighthouse and former County Courthouse have received $29,000 and $11,000 respectively in special state appropriations.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
There are ten National Register listings in Brunswick County, including the Southport Historic District, Brunswick Town Historic District, Orton Plantation, Bald Head Lighthouse, and Fort Johnston.
The Historic Preservation Office reviewed and provided restoration technical services for the renovation of the Walker-Pyke House, an income-producing tax credit project in Southport, which has been completed at a construction investment of $94,600. One residential renovation has been completed to utilize the new state tax credit for non-income-producing historic structures.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLICATIONS
The Historic Preservation Office assisted the Southport Historical Society in publishing the results of the architectural survey in The Architecture of Southport in 1979. Maritime artifacts were loaned to the Museum of Coastal Carolina for an exhibit that ran from 1990 to 1993.
Technical assistance has been provided to many projects throughout the county, including the Bald Head Island Lighthouse, the Southport Town Hall (former Brunswick County Courthouse), and the Caswell Beach Lifesaving Station.