New Hanover County library hosts discussion on 1898 Wilmington coup

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Public Library hosted a discussion Saturday, led by two students, to raise awareness about the 1898 Wilmington coup and its lasting impact on the community.

The event, held at the Pine Valley Library, featured National History Day students Olivia Stetler and Zipporah Tunnage, who discussed the coup and the importance of preserving local history.

Stetler and Tunnage earned first place at the regional, state and national levels for their National History Day project. Their exhibit was also selected to be showcased at the Smithsonian.

Stetler, a student at Wilmington Early College High School, said her experience presenting the students’ research at the Smithsonian showed her how little the coup is known outside the Wilmington area.

“Something that was overwhelmingly apparent was just how little 1898 is talked about outside of, you know, nobody knew about it,” Stetler said. “We were talking to even people who worked at the Smithsonian, weren’t necessarily very familiar with 1898.”

Stetler says the coup’s legacy can still be felt today and that teaching its history is important to understanding the lasting effects of racism and the importance of protecting voting rights.