Onslow County Museum

Onslow is one of North Carolinas oldest counties and its past reflects a rich and varied history. 

Created in 1734, it was named for the Honorable Arthur Onslow, who served for many years as Speaker of the British House of Commons. It goes without saying then that Onslow is rich in history, from its beautiful historic districts in Swansboro, Richlands, and Jacksonville, to the oldest USO in the world.
Jacksonville for example, is in the middle of a renovation of its downtown sector, converting aging historic buildings into beautiful examples of North Carolina heritage, inviting commerce and tourism to the downtown area. The Onslow County Museum is an informative start in your historic tour of Onslow, highlighting American, Native-American and prehistoric artifacts from the county. From there you might visit some of our historic structures such as the Pelletier House and Wantland Spring on the edge of the New River in Jacksonville. Said to be Jacksonvilles oldest surviving structure, the 1850s home of Rufus Pelletier is built in the Greek revival style and is owned by the Onslow County Historical Society. Another notable historic building is the Jacksonville United Service Organization on Tallman Street. Opened in 1942 in accompaniment to Camp Lejeune and supporting bases, the USO is the oldest continuously operating USO in the country. Tours of the facility are free of charge and open to the public, and when given advance notice, a speaker can be provided for larger groups.
Historic Swansboro and Richlands are quaint districts alive with history, Swansboro being listed on the National Register of Historic Place and Richlands offering a walking tour of the downtown area. For a journey into the Carolina past, or for more information on any of the historic sited listed above, call Onslow County Tourism at (800) 932-2144.