In Wilson, history and creativity thrive side by side. You'll find the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park and Museum, the NC Baseball Museum, and a vibrant collection of antique shops. Historic downtown Wilson has new energy thanks to Wilson Arts Center (formerly the Arts Council of Wilson), which offers exhibitions, performances, and community programs, and the Imagination Station Science & History Museum, a hands-on learning center for families. A perfect day might include fresh produce at the Wilson Farmers & Artisan Market, browsing a local art gallery, and wrapping up with dinner and drinks at one of Wilson's breweries or restaurants.
Wilson Arts organizes exhibitions at the Wilson Arts Center and the Edna Boykin Cultural Center, while also presenting live performances in dance, music, and theater. Programs include workshops, lectures, tours, and youth-focused initiatives like the ACT! for Youth series.
The Imagination Station Science & History Museum - eastern North Carolina's only hands-on science and history museum - offers interactive exhibits in science, technology, and local heritage. It serves as a learning resource for schools, teachers, and families across the region.
Wilson is also known as the "City of Antiques", home to one of the largest concentrations of antique dealers in the Southeast. Notable destinations include Boone's Antiques, one of the largest antique furniture showrooms in the country, and Fulford's Antique Warehouse, among dozens of others offering classic design from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Wilson Visitors Center has a complete list of purveyors of fine (and old!) furnishings from all over the world.
Vollis Simpson & His Whirligigs, Whirligig Park and Restoration
Colorful "whirligigs" created by local folk artist Vollis Simpson rise and whirl high above Wilson, commemorating the life and work of a Wilson-born veteran and farmer. Wilson is home to the largest collection of whirligigs in the world, with hundreds of the kinetic sculptures sprinkled throughout the county. Simpson’s whirligigs, made from recycled metal machinery, are a distinct fixture in our community’s art heritage. Sound familiar? You may have seen a Vollis Simpson original in your journeys! He has featured in folk art exhibitions in New York, California, Canada, London, and Russia. Simpson was commissioned to create permanent installations for the 1994 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the North Carolina Museum of Art, and The Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, MD.
2010 saw the beginnings of an initiative for the restoration and preservation of whirligigs. The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park & Museum in historic downtown Wilson was developed and opened for the permanent enjoyment of the unique visionary works, and when the breeze is just right, you can hear them singing a mile away! The park has revitalized downtown Wilson, now home to coffee shops, breweries, restaurants, loft apartments, and an artisan pizzeria. The park also hosts a summer concert series and serves as the venue for the Whirligig Festival, held annually the first weekend of November. The festival draws more than 70,000 visitors each year with live music, artisans, food vendors, and family activities.