WILMINGTON, N.C. — A North Carolina city is looking to build a museum dedicated to basketball star and native Michael Jordan.
They plan to open it on the corner of Chestnut and 3rd Streets in downtown Wilmington as a part of New Hanover County's Project Grace site redevelopment.
The Jordan Family is planning to start the first phase of the project which aims to focus on their achievements in the city and beyond. The family's connection to the Cape Fear Museum in the county started with exhibits celebrating Michael Jordan back in the 80s.
“Being able to see the accomplishments of Michael Jordan, how he came up in this community, what he and his family have done for this community is gonna be really a wonderful thing,” New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise said.
“A museum on this site that is dedicated to highlighting the accomplishments and the legacy of what I think and you would agree is one of the greatest stories in sport and business,” New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet said.
Scalise said this project has been a long time coming.
“This person has changed the face of sports, changed the face of business,” Scalise said. “You’ve heard people say that somebody from a certain industry is the Michael Jordan of X, the Michael Jordan of Y. That’s because he is the definition of excellence. So to have the opportunity to put a museum together to honor him and his family is once-in-a-lifetime.”
A start date for when construction will begin isn't available but the county and the Jordan Family have outlined the next steps in the planning phase with more to come in 2024.
