Presentation sheds light on overlooked history of Eagles Island

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — New details about the history of Eagles Island — a site just across the Cape Fear River from downtown Wilmington — were shared Tuesday during a presentation at the Battleship North Carolina.

The event, titled “The Hidden History of Eagles Island,” was held in the ship’s Wardroom and led by Executive Director Dr. Jay C. Martin. The program focused on the island’s historical, cultural and environmental significance, drawing a crowd interested in learning more about what Martin described as a largely overlooked part of the Cape Fear region’s past.

Eagles Island, long visible from the riverfront, played a significant role in the region’s economy during the mid-18th century. Historians say the island was a hub for the production of rice, tar and turpentine — industries powered largely by enslaved labor — with goods ferried across the river into Wilmington.

According to organizers, the presentation examined the island’s evolution from its earliest known history through its role in shaping the Wilmington area. Much of that history, Martin said, remains hidden beneath the surrounding marshes and waterways.

“Eagles Island is a place with a remarkable and often overlooked history,” Martin said. “This program offers an opportunity to better understand the landscape that has shaped so much of this region and the story of the Battleship North Carolina Memorial.”

The event is part of a broader effort by the Battleship North Carolina Memorial to connect visitors and the local community with the historical context of the site and its surroundings. Additional evening programs are expected in the future.

Martin also said efforts are underway to further preserve and share that history. Plans call for the construction of a new museum near the battleship that would focus on Eagles Island and its role in the region.

The proposed museum would aim to highlight the island’s cultural importance and provide broader context about its past, including the labor that sustained its industries.

Martin said the goal is to have the museum completed and open to the public by 2037.