PENDER COUNTY
Updated 12/31/99
The North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office statewide inventory contains information on over 300 prehistoric and historic archaeological sites in Pender County, including the Topsail Battery a nd the Virginia Creek Line, an extensive set of Confederate earthworks constructed to protect Wilmington during the Civil War.
In 1996-1997, a comprehensive survey of the county was conducted with grant and technical assistance from the Historic Preservation Office. Surveys are cooperative local-state projects accomplished with grants and staff assistance from the Historic Preservation Office.
In 1984 to 1987, the Burgaw Depot restoration project was assisted by $24,300 in state grants. In 1996 a federal grant of $8,000 was awarded for a county architectural survey.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Pender County has eleven National Register listings, including three structures associated with the U. S. Naval Ordnance Testing Facility on Topsail Island, the Pender County Courthouse, four plantation houses, the Burgaw Historic District, the Burgaw Depot, and Moore's Creek National Military Park.
Sloop Point Plantation, believed to be the oldest house in North Carolina, is an income-producing tax credit project in Hampstead completed at a construction investment of $97,100. Two additional income-producing historic buildings are currently under renovation. The Historic Preservation Office reviews and provides restoration technical services for all preservation tax credit projects.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
The Historic Preservation Office participated in the "Baker's Kids Project" in Pender County from 1989 to 1993. The Historic Preservation Office has also participated with the Cape Fear Community College in offering training exercises in underwater archaeology entitled "Hidden Beneath the Waves" since 1989.
The Historic Preservation Office has provided technical assistance to many projects throughout the county such as the Pender County Courthouse, Jail, and the depot in Burgaw, the Assembly Building in Topsail Beach, Poplar Grove, Sloop Point, Long Creek School, the Bannerman House, the Ashe and Lillington cemeteries, and many others.