Menu
Menu
Fort Fisher Mermaid at Sunrise? - Museum of the Bizarre
Looking to discover the best historic homes and historical sites in the South? Look no further than Wilmington, NC. Established in 1739 on the Cape Fear River. Wilmington has been an important city throughout American History.
So come take a look as we discover great historical things to do in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Enjoy the funky shops, the great restaurants, and the beautiful riverwalk. As you take in historic downtown Wilmington. The Historic District is one of the largest. And prettiest districts on the National Register of Historic Places. It has over 230 blocks, 875 buildings, and 38 historic sites.
The Historic District is a great place to walk. Or if you prefer, you can tour the area by horse-drawn carriage.
Located on the banks of the Cape Fear River, this beautiful 2-mile Riverwalk is a great place to start. Sip an espresso at an outdoor cafe. Learn about the history of Wilmington on a guided tour. Check out the markets, unique boutiques, and art galleries open year-round.
This history museum offers tours Mon-Sun from 10 am to 4 pm. Designed by architect James F Post for the Bellamy family. This 10,000 sq-foot home was built between 1859 and 1861. It shares architectural elements of Greek Revival, Neoclassical and Italianate styles.
Explore the mansion from the basement to the belvedere with a guided or self-guided tour. It hosts one of the best-preserved slave quarters in the country. After touring the house, stroll through the restored gardens that date back to the Civil War.
The Bellamy Mansion Museum features various events and exhibits throughout the year. Looking for jazz, check out the summer jazz series. The popular Nights of Lights Holiday Open House returns this winter 2022.
This museum in historic downtown Wilmington features oddities and wonders. Some popular exhibits, that the whole family will enjoy:
Looking for adventure? Test your Mission Impossible skills in the Laser Vault Maze. Avoid the crisscrossing laser beams as you make it to the other side in record time.
This historic home is the only structure from the colonial era open to the public. This Georgian-style home was built in 1770 on the stone walls of the former city jail. You can still see the remains of the outdoor and sub-basement jail cells.
The colonial-style gardens have 7 distinct areas. That includes the orchard, the kitchen garden, and the rose garden. Daily tours describe the lives and history of those who lived. And worked in this beautiful mansion.
Now a history museum. The Latimer House depicts life in Wilmington during the Victorian era. This 14-room historic home was built in 1852. The furnishings and exhibits will take you back 160 years. To what life was like for three generations of the Latimer family. From the Latimer House, you can take a 1 ½ hour walking tour through the Historic District.
You don’t need a special knock to enter this 1920’s prohibition bar. It’s located down an abandoned alley in the middle of historic downtown Wilmington. Take a step back to a bygone era as you enjoy clandestine cocktails and great live music. Looking for somewhere private and cozy? Check out the Volstead Room upstairs, but you’ll need reservations and a password to enter.
Across from Historic Downtown on the Cape Fear River. Come tour the most decorated battleship in WW2, the USS North Carolina. See what life was like on a WW2 battleship as you explore 9 decks, crew quarters, and gun turrets.
Completed in April 1941. The Battleship North Carolina was the first in a new class of fast battleships for the US Navy. The ship saw extensive action in the South Pacific during WW2, earning 15 battle stars.
Decommissioned in 1947, the Battleship North Carolina. Now honors the more than 10,000 men and women of North Carolina. Who gave their lives defending America’s freedoms.
Discover the sordid history of Wilmington. As you tour the city’s actively haunted homes and burial grounds. This 90-minute tour has been named one of the “top 5 ghost walks in America” by USA Today.
Head north on US 17, and you’ll find the Poplar Grove Plantation. Formerly a sweet potato and peanut plantation. The Poplar Grove Plantation is now a living history museum. The museum offers tours Wed-Sat from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm during the summer.
See what plantation life was like as you tour the 835-acre site. On the grounds, you can explore the manor house (c. 1850), the original smokehouse, and the kitchen shed. The museum also has 3 heritage art studios: the Basket Gallery, Print Shop, and Blacksmith Shop.
Every Wednesday from April through September. The museum hosts a Local Market featuring local growers and producers.
Looking for history? Great restaurants? Beautiful southern architecture?
Or just a good old-fashioned ghost story?
Whatever you fancy, you’ll find it in Wilmington NC.
So plan your trip now and come discover all the great historical things to do 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.
