New Hanover County was once the home of some famous pre-Civil War sea captains and other successful shipmasters who played a major role in founding and developing the city, and several of the lovely old houses that they built are still preserved in Wilmington today. It is a city of the historic block with the charm of the classic beauty and sandy beaches of Delaware. Visit the monumental battleship USS North Carolina, take a walk along the Riverwalk, or take a peek at beautiful flowers at the Airlie Gardens.