Grace plan to include a Michael Jordan-themed museum

(Photo credit: New Hanover County)

As part of the redevelopment of the Downtown Grace Project, plans are underway for a freestanding museum focusing on Wilmington native and NBA basketball great Michael Jordan.

“Our community is steeped in history, and while many famous families have roots here, none are more notable than those connected to basketball’s greatest icon, Michael Jordan,” New Hanover County commissioners said in a joint statement. “

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The museum will be built in partnership with New Hanover County and the Jordan family and will include “items related to the basketball player’s career and his family’s legacy.”

The Grace project will be located on a county property block bounded by Grace, Second Street, Chestnut Street and Third Street. The Jordan Museum will be located at the corner of Third and Chestnut Streets.

A news release said the county and the Jordan family signed a “memorandum of understanding outlining next steps in the planning phase, which will include schematic design as well as operational details of the partnership.”

Funding for this phase will be included as part of the 2024 Grace Project Master Plan budget, which includes a new 95,000-square-foot facility to house the library and Cape Fear Museum, as well as parking lot improvements.

Jordan played basketball at Laney High School. After graduating from high school, he joined the UNC Tar Heels and then began a legendary NBA career.