Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Bell from Armored Cruiser North Carolina
U.S.S. North Carolina
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
1. Bell from Armored Cruiser North Carolina Marker
This bronze bell once rang proudly aboard the Armored Cruiser NORTH CAROLINA ACR-12 (1908-1921). The legacy ship:
Cruised the Caribbean and Mediterranean in humanitarian and diplomatic efforts
Escorted President Taft through the Panama Canal construction, 1909
Returned the bodies from the USS MAINE explosion to the United States, 1912
Was the first ship to catapult launch an airplane at sea on November 5, 1915
Carried troops to and from France during World War I
The Ship was renamed CHARLOTTE in June 1920 so that her name might be used for a new battleship. CHARLOTTE was decommissioned in 1921 and sold for scrapping in 1930.
Loan courtesy the North Carolina Museum of History
Erected by Friends of the Battleship North Carolina.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.
Location. 34° 14.197′ N, 77° 57.218′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It can be reached from Battleship Road NE 0.2 miles south of U.S.S. North Carolina Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Battleship Road NE, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and on the Cape Fear Coast. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 20MM Gun Mount (a few steps from this marker); Search and Rescue Missions (a few steps from this marker); V Division: The Aviation Detachment (a few steps from this marker); Launching Aircraft At Sea (a few steps from this marker); Aircraft Recovery (a few steps from this marker); Kingfishers Aboard North Carolina (a few steps from this marker); 16-Inch Armor Piercing Projectile (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Coast Guard (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
2. Bell from Armored Cruiser North Carolina Marker
Public Domain
3. U.S.S. North Carolina Charlotte ((Armored Cruiser No. 12/CA 12)
Naval History and Heritage Command website entry
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 205 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 14, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
