Missiles and More Museum

Visit the Museum to learn about Ocean City NC, the first Beach area available to African American's in NC. Located at 720 Channel Blvd.

The one-mile stretch of land known as Ocean City between North Topsail Beach and Surf City was once owned by a white Lawyer named Edgar Yow who wanted to provide the opportunity for African American’s to own beach property against the attitudes of the 1940's. At the time there was only one African American Beach for Blacks to access. It was a small place called Seabreeze that was only accessible by boat about 15 miles from Wilmington.

Mr. Yow shared his plan with Dr. Samuel J. Grey, a black physician in Wilmington who was a past client. Shortly after their original conversation Dr. Grey involved the Chestnut Brothers who today are considered the developers of Ocean City. Dr. Grey, the Chestnut brothers, and their sister Louise bought the first tracts of land from Edger Yow. An interracial corporation, ‘Ocean City Developers’ was formed in 1949 and was headed by Robert Chestnut, Sr. whose goal was to sell the property to African Americans.

Its establishment created the first beachfront town where people of color could purchase property and build in North Carolina. It was Wade Chestnut’s idea to name this section of Topsail Island Ocean City and he served as the secretary of the corporation. Wade took over the development of Ocean City and became passionate about creating a beach for black ownership. Later in 1959, Wade bought and remodeled one of the remaining observation towers from NASA Project Bumblebee to be a restaurant and tackle shop. He built the first houses and moved his family (wife and two young sons) to Ocean City. The next two houses built were that of Stephen Rodgers of Fayetteville and Henry Mallette, Sr. of Wilmington.

Wade Chestnut and his partner William Eaton of Fayetteville built a ten-room motel and restaurant in 1952, a church summer camp with a 60 camper dormitory and St. Mark’s Episcopal Chapel (Wade H. Chestnut Memorial Chapel). Their intent was to build up the Ocean City area to encourage the development of a planned town with residential and a separate commercial area with a family-friendly beach.

Today the Historical Ocean City Community invites North Carolinians to the area to help them Celebrate their roots and history during the Annual Ocean City Jazz Festival. More can be learned about the Chestnuts and Ocean City by visiting their Exhibit in the Missiles and More Museum in Topsail Beach. Hours and locations are posted on their website at http://missilesandmoremuseum.org/.