Wilmington’s Historic Charm: Vacation Rentals with a Story

Turn back the hands of time and experience the most famous historical sites in Wilmington. With more than 300 years of history, there’s tons to discover. Explore Wilmington’s colonial history and see how wars shaped the city you experience today. See how different stages of wealth emerged with Wilmington’s booming trade industries. And you can’t forget about its role in some of the most iconic TV shows and films in American pop culture history. It has more than 200 blocks designated on the National Register of Historic Places.

Discover the historical charm during your stay in our luxury rentals near Wilmington. Plan your trip around these popular historical sights and museums.

Exploring Wilmington’s Colonial History

To understand why Wilmington has such historical charm, let’s go back to the early 1700s. Wilmington was first incorporated in 1739, quickly becoming a hub for commerce, culture, and political influence. It was established as a colonial town with early influences coming from across the Atlantic Ocean in Liverpool. Wilmington was once called New Liverpool, and the original 12 streets are named after streets in Liverpool.

Experiencing Wilmington’s pre-colonial & colonial history

• Visit the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science to learn about the Cape Fear Region before it was officially settled. It’s the oldest museum in North Carolina and features exhibits about the area’s natural history and life during colonial times.
• Take a walk around the historical district and make note of the street names. Market Street and Princess Street are centrally located routes named after Liverpool counterparts. If you’re history-savvy, you’ll make the connection of Queen St and Ann St to Queen Anne, the Queen of Great Britain.
• The Burgeon-Wright House and Gardens is one of the best examples of a colonial-style home in Wilmington. It was built in 1770 and welcomes visitors inside to view period furnishings and antiques.

Dive into Wilmington’s Booming Commerce Eras

With its location on the Cape Fear River, Port Wilmington was a strategic location for transporting goods. Every generation, a new commerce boom emerged, keeping Wilmington a key port city. It was once the largest city in North Carolina as a thriving business center.

Early settlers utilized the Port of Wilmington to transport goods between England and the New World. At its peak, it operated as a commerce hub for ports in Europe, Africa, and South America.

The next major commerce era began with the introduction of the railroad. At just 161.5 miles long, the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad became the longest in the world. It was used to transport goods and passengers between Wilmington and Weldon. This era of commerce introduced large fortunes to Wilmington that you can experience today.

Experiencing Wilmington’s Commercial History

• Visit the famous Wilmington Riverwalk to see the site of the Port of Wilmington. This 1.75-mile stretch features historical buildings that played roles in port commerce, including the Custom House and Navel Stores. This area is still a hub for commerce with shops, restaurants, and museums.
• See what old money buys when touring inside preserved mansions from Wilmington’s most successful merchants. The stunning Antebellum-style Bellamy Mansion was built in the mid-1800s for a wealthy businessman and plantation owner. Today, it’s a museum showing how the wealthy class lived. The Latimer Family made its fortune with commerce and left behind the 19th-century Latimer House for visitors of today to admire. Tours inside let you see how the other side lived during Wilmington’s Victorian era.
• Learn about local railroad history in the Wilmington Railroad Museum. It details the history of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, home to the World’s longest model railroad, and lets you see a full-sized steam locomotive more than a century old.
• Visit the Cotton Exchange for the site of the cotton export boom. Today, it’s a trendy shopping destination with more than 20+ local retailers occupying eight historic buildings.

Wilmington Wartime History

Wilmington is seeped in war history. The city’s strategic location and economic importance made it a hot spot for opposing sides to take over. It was occupied by British Forces during the Revolutionary War in 1781. Fort Fisher was erected nearby on the coast and used during the Civil War as a Confederate fort. The town’s role in shipbuilding during World War II has earned Wilmington the title ‘American World War II Heritage City.’

Tracking Wilmington’s war history coincides with significant points on the city’s timeline, such as the end of the colonial era after the American Revolutionary War and shipbuilding activity during World War II.

Unveiling the stories of Wilmington’s war history

• The Fort Fisher State Historic Site is located nearby in Kure Beach. Take a tour of the site to see weapons used to protect the important trade route, the Fort Fisher Battlefield, and museum exhibitions full of wartime stories. Check their calendar to attend a live Civil War reenactment or cannon firing demonstration.
• You can see Battleship North Carolina from the Wilmington Riverwalk. But for a closer look at history, visit this decorated WWII battleship to explore nine levels of interior and deck space. Explore the crew’s living quarters, learn first-hand account war stories, and see what it took to get this massive ship moving.
• You’ve learned their stories. Now, take time to pay homage to the burial site of many fallen soldiers from the wars. The Oakdale Cemetery is an outdoor museum with a self-guided walking tour to sites of soldiers.

Wilmington’s Film History

Nicknamed Hollywood East, Wilmington earned its fame on the big screen with iconic TV shows and movies. Relive your favorite teen memories in locations used in Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill. See how Wilmington transformed into the Marvel Universe for the Iron Man 3 film. And see how eerie Wilmington’s downtown historical district can get in The Conjuring—there are Wilmington Ghost Tours if you want to experience the paranormal for yourself.

Become a TV star at iconic film locations in Wilmington:

• Go on the Hollywood Location Walk of Old Wilmington, considered one of the largest living film sets in America. The 90-minute tour takes you to sites like the Wilmington Riverwalk used in Dawson’s Creek, Karen’s Cafe from One Tree Hill, and past the Market Street Carolina Apartments featured in Blue Velvet. For more film fun, check out the State Port of Wilmington and the Wilmington International Airport, used as locations for Iron Man 3.

Best Places to Stay in Wilmington

Want to stay close to history? Our Wilmington vacation rentals provide the perfect home base to uncover the town’s rich history. Stay just a few minutes from downtown or browse our ocean front homes in Wrightsville Beach, just a short drive from the Wilmington historical district.