Wilmington’s streets, riverfront and grand homes tell stories that stretch back centuries, and this year, the city is going all out for America’s 250th anniversary.Over three days, explore Wilmington’s past through historic landmarks and hands-on exhibits – from the colonial-era Burgwin-Wright House to the Wilmington Railroad Museum and the most decorated American battleship of World War II. Plan your visit around special A250 events, including a Revolutionary Wilmington Walking Tour, America’s 250th Fair and a can’t-miss Fourth of July Celebration.


Duration: 3 days | Available: Year-round

Day 1

Drop your bags:

Settle in at one of Wilmington’s charming historic inns or bed-and-breakfasts, each filled with unique character and stories that span generations.

C.W. Worth House Bed & Breakfast

Book a room at this Victorian mansion, where history meets modern comfort. Built in 1893 by prominent merchant Charles W. Worth, this Queen Anne-style home features rooms with ornate fireplaces, claw-foot tubs and other charming details. Guests can enjoy a complimentary gourmet breakfast in the dining room and relax in the cozy parlor, by the outdoor fire pit or on the rocking-chair-lined porch.

Insider tip: From 5-6 p.m., visit the pub room (a.k.a. Jay’s Pub) for a complimentary wine hour with soft jazz setting the mood.

Rosehill Inn Bed & Breakfast

Constructed in 1848 by businessman and banker Henry Russell Savage and once the home of Lincoln Memorial architect Henry Bacon Jr., this Victorian mansion is a Wilmington treasure. Each guest room is uniquely decorated, featuring details such as antique writing desks, iron beds, floral wallpaper and reading chairs. Each morning, relax in the beautifully appointed common areas before breakfast in the dining room, then unwind on the wraparound porch overlooking the gardens.

The French House

Originally built in 1850 by civic leader George R. French, this elegant home now offers multiple private rooms with charming antique touches. Guests can sip coffee on the porch or enjoy a continental breakfast delivered directly to their room. Fun fact: While living here, French owned and operated Wilmington’s largest boot and shoe repair business.

Angie's Bed & Breakfast

The 1917 Bluethenthal Mansion, now Angie’s Bed & Breakfast, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The brick, Georgian Revival house was designed by James F. Gause, Jr. and James B. Lynch for prominent local businessman Herbert Bluethenthal. Inside, the home features antiques, floral details and warm wood accents. Guests can relax by the fireplace in the plush seating area, enjoy weekend breakfast spreads in the large dining room or choose continental breakfast options on weekdays.

Magnolia House

Now a vacation rental, the 1921 Magnolia House in Carolina Heights offers five large bedrooms, each with its own character. The home is bathed in sunlight from expansive windows overlooking a garden with a stately magnolia tree, formal lower garden, camellias and azaleas. Original details abound, from 10-foot ceilings and decorative mantels to 1920s call buttons. Common areas, including a full kitchen, dining room, living room and parlor, make it easy for families to gather.
 

Afternoon activity: Battleship NORTH CAROLINA

Step aboard Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, the most decorated American battleship of World War II. Commissioned in 1941, it served in every major Pacific offensive and was nicknamed “The Showboat” for its impressive size and firepower.

Spend a couple hours exploring nine levels that reveal the ship’s impressive engineering and the daily life of its crew. Tour the engine room, gun turrets and combat information center, then move through the functional spaces of a floating city, including the crew’s galley, post office and barber shop. The bridge provides sweeping views of the Cape Fear River, while the main deck showcases historic features like a Kingfisher Scout Plane and nine 16-inch guns.

For a deeper dive, join a guided tour to learn more about sailors’ routines and the ship’s command systems. Visit this link to book a tour in advance.
 

Dinner: Three10 Restaurant (housed in the historic Allen-Oliver House)

Feast on coastal Carolina cuisine at Three10 Restaurant, housed in a 1920s bungalow saved from demolition. The building’s original floors and windows are preserved, and the name comes from 310 Bladen St., its original address. Share oysters from the raw bar, then savor mains like NC white shrimp étouffée, duck confit or crispy-skin NC speckled trout, all while relaxing on the beautiful wraparound porch.

Evening activity: Thalian Hall

Built in the 1850s as Wilmington’s original City Hall and opera house, Thalian Hall is one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the U.S. Today, it presents a variety of history-inspired productions – including “1776: The Musical,” a witty and timely look at the debates behind America’s founding, and “Men on Boats,” an inventive retelling of John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition of the American West, performed entirely by women and female-presenting actors. For the most up-to-date events and showtimes, visit Thalian Hall’s website.

Insider tip: Even if the curtain isn’t rising during your visit, Thalian Hall’s guided historical tours provide an immersive look at one of Wilmington’s most treasured venues. You’ll even get an up-close look at the theater’s original hand-painted curtain, which depicts a classical scene from ancient Greece. 


Day 2

Breakfast: 24 South Coffee House (Wilmington’s oldest coffee shop)

Grab breakfast at the oldest coffee shop in Historic Downtown Wilmington, known for its homemade pastries and locally roasted coffee made with pure, reverse osmosis-filtered water. The vibe is cozy and artsy, with porch seating perfect for a slow morning of people-watching. Fun fact: Originally called Cape Fear Coffee and Tea, this was Wilmington’s one and only downtown coffee shop for part of the ‘90s.
 

Morning activity: Wilmington Walking Tours’ Wilmington History & Architecture Walking Tour or WilmingtoNColor’s Heritage Tour

Explore the stories behind Wilmington’s most iconic landmarks on Wilmington Walking Tours’ 1.5-mile, 90-minute walking tour, tracing Wilmington’s story from colonial days to the present and covering topics including the local economy, Confederacy, race relations and the film industry. Insider tip: Along the way, look for the 1738 Mitchell-Anderson House on the corner of Orange and South Front streets – older than Wilmington itself and a survivor of the devastating 1798 fire.

Or, board WilmingtoNColor’s shuttle for a 90-minute tour diving into the city’s Black history, including the only successful coup on U.S. soil. You’ll visit locations from “The Green Book,” discover Wilmington’s role in the Underground Railroad and learn about the service of the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) during the Civil War. Insider tip: To learn more about the USCT and see the commemorative Boundless sculpture, visit U.S. Colored Troops Park at Cameron Art Museum.
 

Lunch: Rebellion or Copper Penny

Dig into hearty, history-themed fare at Rebellion, a veteran-owned eatery honoring the Whiskey Rebellion. Try the Rebel Yell smoked turkey sandwich, The Showboat fried chicken sandwich (named after Battleship NORTH CAROLINA) or the 1836 burger. Or, head to Copper Penny, featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” for a basket of the iconic beer-battered onion rings and a hot roasted pork sandwich.
 

Afternoon activity: Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens (Wilmington’s only colonial building open to visitors)

Step back to colonial Wilmington at the Burgwin-Wright House, the city’s only colonial-era building open to visitors. Built in 1770 by John Burgwin on the site of the 1744 city jail, the home showcases Georgian architecture and rooms furnished with 18th- and 19th-century antiques. Explore the freestanding kitchen house with its massive hearth, outdoor and sub-basement jail cells and colonial-style tiered gardens featuring pomegranate trees, roses and more.

Visit the gift shop to purchase admission for a guided tour, offered Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, check our calendar for upcoming programming and events at this historic home – including the Spring Market, America’s 250th Fair and candlelit Night Tours.
 

Dinner: The Pilot House (Wilmington’s oldest continuously operating downtown restaurant)

Enjoy classic seafood dishes and river views at Wilmington’s oldest continuously operating downtown restaurant. Start with the fried green tomatoes and roasted oysters for the whole table. Then, dig into hearty mains like the NC shrimp and grits, blackened redfish and cast iron bistro filet. 
 

Evening activity: Barbary Coast (Wilmington’s oldest bar)

A Wilmington staple since 1945, Barbary Coast brings a swashbuckling touch to your night out with pirate-themed decor, a full liquor bar and over 100 beers to choose from. Queue up some oldies on the jukebox and enjoy classic games like darts and pool while sipping your favorite brew.


Day 3

Breakfast: Dixie Grill (Wilmington’s oldest restaurant)

Start your morning on the right note with omelets, pancakes, breakfast burritos and more at this century-old restaurant. Insider tip: Visit Dixie Grill’s website to explore fascinating local newspaper clippings from the early 1900s.
 

Morning activity: Wilmington Railroad Museum

All aboard! Visit the Wilmington Railroad Museum and discover the city’s railroading legacy through hundreds of artifacts and interactive exhibits. Climb aboard a red Atlantic Coast Line caboose, ring the bell of a century-old Baldwin steam locomotive and watch detailed model railroads in action. Fun fact: Railroading was Wilmington’s main industry for more than 125 years, and the city was once home to the world’s longest continuous rail line – the 161-mile Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, completed in 1840.

Insider tip: If you’re traveling with kiddos, be sure to visit the dedicated children’s area, where they can operate Thomas the Tank Engine on a model train layout.


Lunch: Front Street Brewery (Wilmington’s original brewery)

Refuel with a burger or seafood plate at Wilmington’s original brewery, housed in a historic building that began as a dry goods store in 1865. Pair your meal with a whiskey flight or a seasonal brew, and enjoy a taste of Wilmington’s vibrant downtown history.


Afternoon activity: Wilmington Water Tours cruise or Poplar Grove Plantation

Relax on a one-hour cruise aboard Wilmington Water Tours’ enclosed catamaran with panoramic views. Choose a northern route past Historic Downtown and Eagles Island to spot shipwrecks and wildlife while learning about rice plantations. Or, head south under the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge to see the state ports and discover Wilmington’s history and river ecology. For a special experience celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, join the “Outlander” in the Cape Fear Water Tour (March 7, May 10) and explore Colonial Wilmington with local historian Hunter Ingram.

If you have extra time, make your way to Poplar Grove Plantation, one of America’s oldest plantations. Take a guided tour to see historic highlights like the 1850 home, tenant house and blacksmith shop (Note: tours are limited, so check this link to confirm availability). Or, keep an eye on our calendar for special events like the Garden & Herb Fair.


More to Explore

For those eager to dive even deeper into the region’s rich past, several notable historic sites are just a short drive away, including:


Special A250 events

From commemorations to community celebrations, special A250 events throughout the year provide meaningful ways to engage with Wilmington’s rich history:


Even more A250 events will be added throughout the year. Visit this link for the most up-to-date details.