Wilmington to explore new museum celebrating the city’s most famous athlete
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — In New Hanover County, the next phase of Project Grace could honor the Port City’s most famous athlete, Michael Jordan.
The county, in collaboration with the Jordan Family, is set to enter a planning phase for a museum to honor Michael Jordan in Wilmington.
The museum will pay tribute to the hometown legend and, will likely, be a part of Project Grace at the corner of Chestnut and 3rd streets.
The family’s relationship with the county’s Cape Fear Museum dates back to the 1980’s with exhibits honoring Michael Jordan.
In working with the Jordan family, the county aims to focus on the family’s journey and values.
“Being able to see the accomplishments of Michael Jordan, how he came up in this community, what he and his family have done for this community is gonna be really a wonderful thing,” New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise said.
The museum partnership is proposed for the corner of Chestnut and 3rd Streets in downtown Wilmington, which is part of the county’s Project Grace site redevelopment.
“A museum on this site that is dedicated to highlighting the accomplishments and the legacy of what I think and you would agree is one of the greatest stories in sport and business,” New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet said.
Scalise said a museum honoring MJ has been a long time coming for Wilmington.
“This person has changed the face of sports, changed the face of business,” Scalise said. “You’ve heard people say that somebody from a certain industry is the Michael Jordan of X, the Michael Jordan of Y. That’s because he is the definition of excellence. So to have the opportunity to put a museum together to honor him and his family is once-in-a-lifetime.”
Sandy Thorpe is a Wilmington resident and ‘Tar Heels’ fan.
He is excited to see a new way to bring more people to Wilmington.
“I think its exciting,” he said. “Everything Michael Jordan has giving back to the community and the commissioners bringing, working with him to bring him here. It’s a good attraction for people downtown to go see.”
The county and Jordan family have entered into a memorandum of understanding that outlines the next steps of a planning phase.
There is no exact start date or design at this time.
Funding for this phase will be included as part of the overall Project Grace planning budget, and is expected to occur in 2024.
