Downtown Wilmington © Brownie Harris
Wilmington NC Visitor Center
Welcome to the Wilmington NC Visitor Center!
We are thrilled to have you here in beautiful Wilmington, North Carolina – a charming coastal gem that offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey filled with exciting activities and experiences that will leave you wanting more. Places to visit include:
1. Historic Downtown Wilmington Riverwalk: Begin your adventure by strolling along the enchanting Wilmington Riverwalk, where the Cape Fear River meets the heart of the city. Marvel at the historic architecture, quaint boutiques, art galleries, and bustling cafes. It’s the perfect spot for a leisurely walk or a romantic evening under the stars.
2. USS NORTH CAROLINA Battleship: Immerse yourself in history aboard the Battleship NC, a majestic World War II vessel that now serves as a floating museum. Explore the decks, view impressive weaponry, and discover what life was like for the brave men and women who served on this iconic ship.
3. Airlie Gardens: Step into a botanical paradise at Airlie Gardens, where 67 acres of stunning gardens, walking trails, and freshwater lakes await you. The highlight here is the majestic 500-year-old Airlie Oak, a sight to behold and a symbol of strength and resilience.
4. Beach Bliss: Wilmington boasts some of the most breathtaking beaches on the East Coast. Head to Wrightsville Beach for thrilling water sports, Carolina Beach for a lively boardwalk, or Kure Beach for a peaceful and serene coastal experience.
5. Historic Sites and Museums: Dive into Wilmington’s rich history with visits to the Bellamy Mansion Museum, the Cape Fear Museum, and the Cameron Art Museum. Each place offers unique insights into the region’s past, art, and cultural heritage.
6. Cinespace Wilmington Studios: Calling all movie buffs! Discover the magic of Hollywood East by taking a tour of the filming locations for the numerous movies and television shows produced at the studio and surrounding venues. You might even catch a glimpse of your favorite TV show or movie being filmed.
7. Culinary Delights: Treat your taste buds to a culinary adventure with Wilmington’s vibrant dining scene. From fresh seafood caught daily to southern comfort food, the city’s restaurants offer a delightful array of flavors to satisfy every palate.
Get ready for an extraordinary journey through Wilmington, where every corner is filled with history, beauty, and warm Southern hospitality. Our friendly locals and breathtaking sights await you. Come and make memories that will last a lifetime!
Safe travels and enjoy your stay in our charming coastal city!
Cape Fear River, Wilmington NC © Lifted.Pictures
Downtown Wilmington NC
– Deep Dive –
Wilmington: Echoes of the Past
In the South there is a fascination with the past that is tangible. Among the citizens of a charming port city on the North Carolina coast, the fascination has become an abiding passion. The city of Wilmington was incorporated in 1741 and named in honor of Spencer Compton, the Earl of Wilmington.
Located on the banks of the Cape Fear River, it now has the largest historic district of any urban area in the state and reportedly the third largest in the country. Its population makes it the 8th largest city in North Carolina yet still retains its small town charm.
Streets of brick and cobblestone line much of the old city. Graceful homes with wide front porches, Greek columns and decorative ornamentation – survivors of the antebellum and Victorian eras – gaze wistfully at these antiquated, tree-lined streets as if they have a story to tell; and they do. The occasional iron hitching post, stepping blocks and sculpted watering troughs recall the days when horses and carriages traveled these bumpy lanes.
Downtown Wilmington
In an earlier century, English ships, their empty holds weighted for safety with stones, left the ballast behind when they loaded their cargoes of cotton, turpentine, and other naval stores for the return trip from the Carolinas. The ballast was integrated into high, stone walls rising above the sidewalks, near the river.
Adding to the intrigue of rich local lore and legend are tales of a network of underground tunnels leading from a number of the older homes to the water’s edge; some say they were passageways used to conceal smugglers or escaping prisoners. Indeed, the city boasts a connection with pirates such as the notorious Blackbeard, as well as with more savory historical personages: General George Washington, President Taft; Captain John N. Maffitt and other fearless captains of the Confederate blockade runners; Anna McNeill Whistler, made famous in the portrait painted by her son; Henry Bacon, architect of the Lincoln Memorial; President Woodrow Wilson and many others.
Historic Thalian Hall, the pride of Thespian community, was designed by the foremost theatre architect of the 19th Century, John Montague Trimble, and has been restored to its 1850s elegance. Now called The Thalian Center for the Performing Arts, the theatre is filled nightly with lovers of music and drama. Its stage has seen the likes of actors Maurice Barrymore, Agnes Moorehead and Linda Lavin and singers Marian Anderson, The Kingston Trio and Judy Collins. Even John Phillips Sousa and the legendary Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show performed there.
Across town is one of the finest movie studios in the world, Cinespace Wilmington Studios. The studio was initially drawn to this area by Orton Plantation with its gorgeous old mansion house and elaborate formal gardens overlooking the river. Over time the studio found a veritable treasure trove of suitable locations. Dozens of movies including Glory, Sleeping With The Enemy, Blue Velvet, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I Know What You Did Last Summer, 28 Days, Iron Man 3, Cape Fear, Black Knight, and The Crow have since been filmed in the city or nearby. Television shows including Matlock, Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, Eastbound and Down, Under the Dome, Revolution, Sleepy Hollow, and Good Behavior have been produced here.
During World War II, the Wilmington shipyard turned out hundreds of Liberty ships – cargo carriers that were among the most valuable of the war; today its deep-water port hosts huge container ships from all over the world. Pleasure craft and the mighty Battleship NORTH CAROLINA share the city’s waterfront along the Cape Fear River. The battleship is the most decorated U.S. Battleship of World War II.
On September 2, 2020, President Donald R. Trump attended a ceremony at the battleship during which he formally designated Wilmington, North Carolina as the first American World War II Heritage City. The president’s designation marked the 75th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur’s acceptance of Japan’s unconditional surrender to end World War II on September 2, 1945.
The Cotton Exchange, a quaint shopping center in the downtown area, occupies the old brick buildings that once housed one of the world’s largest cotton exporting businesses.
Today, Wilmington, known as the “Port City,” continues to fascinate and entertain its visitors. Since 1948 it has held the annual North Carolina Azalea Festival each spring. The Azalea Festival showcases our rich array of gardens, history, culture, and artwork and presents nationally recognized entertainment. Past Azalea Festival participants include President Ronald Reagan who served as emcee in 1959, Wilmington native Michael Jordan, Kelly Ripa who was crowned Queen Azalea in 1993, Bob Hope, and General George C. Marshall.
You should come to Wilmington NC to enjoy the myriad experiences it has to offer. Using this Wilmington NC Visitor Center makes it easy to explore your favorite interests.
Tall Ship Prince William on the Cape Fear River
The both calming and exciting 1.75-mile Wilmington Riverwalk is a must-see with its boutiques, shops, galleries, restaurants, and moving vistas. It runs along the bank of the Cape Fear River from Nun Street north to the Isabel Holmes bridge.
The National Register Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and its area expanded in 2003. It is comprised of 1,070 acres to include approximately 230+ blocks, 875 buildings, 38 sites, and other structures. This historic zone includes residential and commercial buildings that have been part of our nation’s development produced by the local population. See the historic district map here and its inventory list here.
There are a variety of interesting tours in Historic Downtown Wilmington. Guided horsedrawn carriage tours methodically step you along Wilmington streets’ historic sites and Colonial, Antebellum and Victorian architecture. Explore authentic historic home museums such as Bellamy Mansion and Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens.
Similarly, trolley tours and walking tours highlight the Port City’s past and present. There are also garden, food, pub, haunted, and Hollywood film and television location tours.
Take a daytime or moonlight scenic cruise with tour guides up and down the Cape Fear River and over to the beaches. These pleasurable cruises are run daily by experienced mariners. Boat charters are available.
Downtown Wilmington NC’s nightlife has something for everyone. There are upscale bars and lounges, cool sports bars, nightclubs with live and DJ music, smooth wine bars, and breweries with craft beers all over town. Wilmington has a menagerie of hot spots to meet new friends and dance. And don’t forget the hotel bars.
Check out the entertainment including outdoor music at the Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park and the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater and enjoy Jazz at the Bellamy Mansion. Take in a performance at historic Thalian Hall.
Visitors shop in Wilmington for days looking for everything from designer brands to locally handmade items. There are shopping centers, stores and boutiques that dot the town from the river to the sea. It is an antiquer’s paradise.
There are dozens of Restaurants in Wilmington for the entire family with varied cuisines and dining atmospheres for all occasions. Enjoy dining along the Cape Fear River, in historic downtown Wilmington, midtown, and everywhere in between.
A first-time visitor is surprised and pleased to discover the multitude of diverse things to do in Wilmington and nearby beaches. We suggest you review all the great options in this Wilmington NC Visitor Center and peruse the entire site digging down multiple levels within the menus to find your favorites. Take advantage of VisitWilmingtonNC.com on your phone to easily locate destinations while walking around the city.
Historic Wilmington warmly welcomes you.
Downtown Wilmington NC
© Brownie Harris
New Hanover County Parks & Gardens proudly maintains over 25 parks and athletic facilities. The department manages over 2,800 acres of green space, sporting areas, boat ramps, fishing areas, public spaces, walking trails and non-park properties, including historic Airlie Gardens.
© Brownie Harris
Intracoastal Waterway Idyllic Views
Historic Architecture
Wilmington Waterfront
© Brownie Harris
Intracoastal Waterway
This Wilmington NC Visitor Center has everything you need to plan a happy vacation.
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