For a stay in Burgaw, local history and walks offer different focuses. The Historic Burgaw Depot and the Pender County Museum invite cultural and historical discovery; the Osgood Canal Greenway and Urban Trail passes through wooded and urban areas. There are also events with dates of their own. First consider whether you want to make a depot visit that requires arranging by phone, a trail route, or a festival the focus of your trip planning.
Railroad History at the Historic Burgaw Depot
The Historic Burgaw Train Depot is the oldest railroad depot in North Carolina and part of the North Carolina Civil War Trail. The Historic Burgaw Depot houses a transportation museum, archived and curated by the Historic Depot Foundation. Alongside the railroad depot, the history of transportation is therefore a cultural focus in its own right.
Arranging a time is important for a visit: Because opening hours are limited, visits are arranged by phone with Cody Suggs of Burgaw Parks & Recreation. Confirm your visit in advance, as current planning information may change. If the depot is one reason for your trip, factor this arrangement into your plans.
Museum, Historic District, and Court House
The Pender County Museum is located in the Burton-Noel House, the first brick house ever built in Burgaw, dating to around 1917. The museum displays numerous artifacts from Burgaw's history. Compared with the transportation museum at the depot, its focus is on local history and its collections.
The Burgaw Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in August 1999. The historic Pender County Court House is at the center of downtown Burgaw. Its grounds have been used for many festivals, weddings, and as film locations; they also offer a place for quiet walks. The courthouse thus offers another perspective on Burgaw: a historic site whose grounds are also used for events and quiet breaks.
Walks Along the Osgood Canal
The Osgood Canal Greenway and Urban Trail is a 2.6-mile loop around the central part of Burgaw's urban area. The trail follows the Osgood Canal through Burgaw and offers walks through wooded areas along the canal as well as urban areas downtown. The same loop therefore takes you through two clearly distinct settings: wooded stretches by the canal and downtown areas.
Burgaw is also a Trail Community on the Mountain to Sea Trail, which runs through Pender County. This is distinct from the Osgood Canal Greenway and Urban Trail: here, the Mountain to Sea Trail is associated with the county, while the 2.6-mile loop circles the central part of Burgaw's urban area. This helps distinguish the two without treating them as the same route.
Events and Dates
Autumn Fest is a family-friendly event in downtown Burgaw. The program includes vendors, activities, games, and food; the program may change. If you want to plan your trip around this festival, check the latest event information in advance.
The North Carolina Blueberry Festival was founded in 2003 and takes place in Burgaw every year on the third weekend in June. As the annual timing may change, check the current dates before planning your trip around it. The historical society hosts the Burgaw Holiday Tour every year and the Antique and Appraiser Show during the North Carolina Blueberry Festival. This means that, in addition to the June weekend, there are other recurring event dates you may want to factor into your plans.
When looking for a vacation rental in Burgaw, the reason for your trip can be a useful starting point: a depot visit requires arranging a time by phone, while a festival stay depends on the relevant event dates. History and walks offer other themes to guide your trip planning.
Discover more destinations: Hampstead, Topsail Beach, Surf City
Return to the regional travel overview: Pender.
