Menu
Menu
The Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens is a piece of Wilmington’s history. This is the only colonial-era structure open to the Wilmington public. Currently, it operates as a museum house and historic gardens.
The Burgwin Wright House is a beautiful example of Georgian architecture. The colonial-style gardens also hold many events. These are the things that keep life in this historic structure.
The Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens should be on every history buff’s checklist. This piece of pre-revolutionary history is located at 224 Market St, Wilmington, NC.
In 1769, the Gaol, which was the main jail in Wilmington, was decommissioned. This jail stood since 1744 but after it was decommissioned, a new jail opened in a new location.
When John Burgwin bought the plot in 1769, he acquired three remains of the 1744 jail. John used the ballast stone walls of the original structure to build his house. The building process took place between 1770-1771.
The house was originally a townhouse for John Burgwin to run his operations. It was for him to conduct business and entertain guests. This meant that the house was built to impress and many years later it still does.
The house was also used by his whole family. Having the townhouse allowed them to leave behind their plantations in the summer. This is when diseases begin to infest the plantations. While in town they can enjoy new merchants and attend balls. In winter the house was only used by the family heads to conduct business.
The Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens were built in 1770. It is the only colonial-era building in Wilmington that is open to the public. Hundreds of items are displayed in each of the rooms. You can expect to see antique furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The colonial-style gardens, which cover an acre, have seven different sections, including:
We all know the house was built from the ballast stone walls of the former city jail. However, It still has many relics from its previous life. Which includes outdoor and basement jail cells and a freestanding kitchen house. The kitchen house has a huge hearth filled with antique cooking utensils.
John Burgwin primarily used the Georgian architectural style to construct his home. Which is characterized by its symmetry and sense of refined beauty. Georgian design elements can also be seen in the fact that the front and back of the house were identical. The front door has two windows on either side, and the back door has two windows as well. The columns that line the front and back of the house are identical.
The piazza is a prominent element of Burgwin's townhouse's exterior. They were crucial social spaces, as noted by architectural historian Catherine Bishir. In North Carolina, piazzas frequently protruded into the streets. However, in contrast to Charleston, where they were frequently enclosed by walls.
To avoid the constant flooding, the Burgwin-Wright house was elevated off the ground. In addition to being useful, the raised structure gives the residents a better view of the water. It also makes it easier for cross-breezes to enter the house through large open windows and doors. Unlike homes at a lower elevation. Naturally, natural sunlight was highly coveted in an era before electricity. A higher elevation also makes it possible for the sunlight to enter the rooms.
Mrs. Florence Hill Kidder and the North Carolina Society's history began in Wilmington. Mrs. Kidder put in a lot of effort in 1892 to raise money and support. This was for the North Carolina exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair. She met women from all over the country who shared her enthusiasm for colonial history. Many of whom were members of the recently established NSCDA. After visiting the World's Fair, Mrs. Kidder decided to found a Charter in North Carolina. In 1894, the North Carolina Society became a legal entity.
In 1937, The Burgwin-Wright House was purchased for $21,000. This was by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in North Carolina.
Restoration to the house started in early 1939. By 1941, the home’s exterior was completed.
In 1949, the Society was able to secure all required funding. The lead architect then started working on the interior restoration of the house. At this point, the interior of the house was fully restored using the original paint colors. So were the plumbing and electrical systems. By the end of 1949, the house was ready for furnishing.
The floors were cleaned and refinished as well. This brought out the natural beauty of the original Long-Leaf Pine planks. The significant interior restoration project was finished in 2018.
Unfortunately, the roof and chimney sustained significant damage when Hurricane Florence hit. But there is always a silver lining. The roof underwent a complete restoration. It was restored to give the eighteenth-century cedar shakes style in late 2019 and early 2020.
Daily tours happen from Monday to Saturday 10 am – 4 pm. Tours are on the hour! So don’t be late. Visitors have access to the:
This is in addition to the guided house tour.
To access the guided tour, you will need to buy your ticket from the gift shop.
Before or after taking a guided tour of the house, visitors are welcome to take a self-guided tour of the gardens. You can check out the exhibits in the visitor center, and admire the artwork in the gallery. The Burgwin-Wright house needs to be explored to truly be appreciated! So head on over to 224 Market St, Wilmington, NC. And book your tour today! Check out Burgwin Wright House in Wilmington NC!
After getting accepted to ECU, I started looking for things to do in and around Greenville, NC. However, my searches kept taking me to places in South Carolina! There must be things to do around ECU, so I started asking other students. They kept telling me to graduate and move away! This inspired me to begin exploring eastern North Carolina and build this website as a showcase of the places to go, sights to see, and things to do all over eastern NC. I have fallen in love with this region and started taking up roots here. After graduating, I didn't move away - I bought a house here and continue to explore eastern North Carolina.
