Wilson in Wilson County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

From Artist to Icon

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 27, 2025

1. From Artist to Icon Marker

Inscription.
January 17, 1919: Vollis Simpson Born

July 22, 1941: Inducted into the U.S. army Air Corps. Served in WWII in the Pacific

November 26, 1945: Discharged as a staff sergeant

January 20, 1947: Married Jean Barnes. Subsequently had two sons and a daughter

1985: Retired and began creating whirligigs

1996: Commissioned to make 4 sculptures for the Olympics in Atlanta Georgia

2010: Park Development begins by citizen group

2011: Wins the North Carolina Award

2012: Named Southern Living "Hero of the New South"

May 31 2013: Simpson passes away at age 94

June 2013: Simpson's Whirligigs designated as official Folk Art for the state of North Carolina October 2013: Park Groundbreaking

2015: Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park and Museum Non-profit formed

November 2017: Park Grand Opening

Erected by Wilson Downtown Properties, Inc.; The City of Wilson; Wilson Paid Advertisement Downtown Development; and the North Carolina Arts Council.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is January 17, 1919.

Location. 35° 43.349′ N,

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77° 54.732′ W. Marker is in Wilson, North Carolina, in Wilson County. It is at the intersection of Douglas Street South and South Street South, on the right when traveling west on Douglas Street South. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Goldsboro St S, Wilson NC 27893, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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 Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Man Behind the 'Gigs (here, next to this marker); Tosneoc Village (within shouting distance of this marker); Preserving a Legacy (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome (within shouting distance of this marker);

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 27, 2025

2. From Artist to Icon Marker

a different marker also named From Artist to Icon (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Man Behind the 'Gigs (within shouting distance of this marker); World's Greatest Tobacco Market (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wilson Tobacco Market (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilson.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. An identical marker stands elsewhere in the park.

Photo on the display image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 27, 2025

3. Photo on the display

Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 34 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 27, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.