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Biltmore tops state's 'most visited' list

McClatchy Tribune Wire Service

Published: January 27, 2009

Biltmore remained the state's most popular historic attraction for the fifth straight year.

The country estate founded by George and Edith Vanderbilt in Asheville attracted more than a million visitors for the third consecutive year, according to an annual survey of museums and historic attractions released Monday by Carolina Publishing Associates.

The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro was second.

The Natural Science Center in Greensboro showed the strongest growth. It jumped eight spots in the rankings. It went from No. 22 with 175,745 visitors in 2007 to No. 14 with 267,086 guests last year thanks to their new animal park addition.

Two attractions made appearances on the top 25 list for the first time -- Morehead Planetarium at UNC-Chapel Hill and the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville.

The 25 most-visited museums and historic attractions in 2008 were:

1. Biltmore, Asheville (1,070,900 visitors in 2008)
2. North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro (764,637)
3. N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh (760,188)
4. Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach, (703,120)
5. Discovery Place, Charlotte (665,609)
6. Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills (529,909)
7. N.C. Aquarium, Fort Fisher (408,671)
8. N.C. Museum of Life and Science, Durham (378,000)
9. N.C. Aquarium, Pine Knoll Shores (376,321)
10. N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh (327,425)
11. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo (313,096)
12. N.C. Aquarium, Roanoke Island (292,116)
13. N.C. Arboretum, Asheville (276,257)
14. Natural Science Center, Greensboro (267,086)
15. Grandfather Mountain, Linville (255,000).
16. N.C. Maritime Museum, Beaufort (251,180)
17. Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington (217,102)
18. Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock (212,115)
19. Cherokee Historical Association, Cherokee (202,564)
20. Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo (202,018).
21. N.C. Auto Racing Hall of Fame, Mooresville (195,000)
22. N.C. Museum of Art, Raleigh (190,623)
23. Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill (172,030)
24. Linville Caverns, Marion (163,966)
25. Smoky Mountain Railroad, Bryson City (150,000)