By Catherine M. Welch
Wilmington, NC – Wilmington 1898 Memorial will be installed Friday at the northern gateway to downtown Wilmington.
Violence erupted on November 10,1898 as part of the overthrow of Wilmington's elected black government. It is the only coup d'etat in US history, and killed an unknown number of black residents.
Just blocks from where the first shots were fired, an Atlanta artist is placing six cast bronze paddles inside the memorial park.
1898 Foundation Co-Chair Lethia Hankins says the memorial marks Wilmington's willingness to accept its less than perfect past.
"We had some rocky beginnings, and I want this to be a constant reminder we are an open city, we welcome everybody, our motto 'moving forward together' and that's what we're doing."
Funding for the memorial came entirely from Wilmington businesses and residents, including decesendents of the men who planned the bloody coup.
Ten Major Donors to the 1898 Memorial
Dr. James Brown
Boney Architects
Wilmington Star-News
Hugh MacRae II
Progress Energy
In memory of Alice Moore Sisson
Sun Trust Bank
Wachovia Foundation
Sarah Lee White
BB&T
Read the final report on the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot here
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