What’s amazing about Wilmington is that the destruction from the Civil War didn’t touch this town at all, so the buildings and homes we’ll be seeing are all original (but updated); some are 200 years old. By the 1970s, this area was pretty rundown, but citizens decided it was worth the effort to revitalize it. And we’re the beneficiaries. It was a chilly, rainy day, so we didn’t want to stay outside longer than necessary.
But first, Riverfest was in town so we checked it out–for 5 minutes.
again, even gem mining
historic downtown
We took a horse-drawn trolley tour around the historic district. The story behind these draft horses is so interesting.
The driver really has a heart for draft horses that aren’t wanted by the Amish farmers because at two-years old, they weren’t able to pull together and so were destined for the processors. The driver buys them, brings them to his farm outside of town, and lets them live out their lives as horses. Each pair get their workout for a month here in town for this trolley ride. The weight they can pull is so much more than we require that we’re a snap to pull.
Four young women on the trolley were a delight to talk to and they wanted us to take this picture of a smooch.
original buildings as we start our tour
The merchant district is along the wharf.
And we “enjoyed” the original brick streets.
The Mitchell-Anderson house was built in 1838 and is the oldest surviving structure in the city.
The Brown-Lord house was built in 1775 and is the fifth oldest surviving structure in Wilmington.
The last purchase of this pink house was for $25,000. It has since been restored and is now worth so much more.
The Richard Langdon house remained in the family for 31 years. I love the architecture.
This historic home is now a Bed and Breakfast and an event center. Many brides love this house.
The narrow cobblestone road between these homes was for carriages.
Don’t remember the background of this house, but it’s lovely.
These identical craftsman-style homes are from the 1930s. They could be purchased through the Sears catalogue but had to be put together once the pieces arrived–with tools ordered from Sears.
What’s interesting about this house are the features for air movement. The open brick pattern allows air to flow through. Vents in the attic by the roof allow hot air to escape.
The storefront of this building was originally a speakeasy.
more historic buildings as we finish up our tour
This main street is divided by this promenade. Originally a one horse-drawn trolley helped residents get around town.
And across the Cape Fear River is our battleship from the previous post.
Information about Cape Fear River. No, the name didn’t come from the Robert De Niro movie.
Next we get to learn about an unknown battle in the Civil War that sealed the fate of the South.
