A history tour in North Carolina is available through Wilmington True History Tours. Take your pick from Wilmington History Walks, Wilmington Dark History Tours, Civil War Wilmington Walking Tours, and Oakdale Cemetery Walking Tours. We know the ghost tours are popular, but sometimes folks want to learn about the pirates that once moved stealthily along the Cape Fear River waters before Wilmington was even a city; or hear about a tragic fire that killed a heroic firefighter and his sweet, loyal dog; and discover the intriguing story of the female Confederate spy and her unusual death! These and other mysteries unfold on the bucket-list tours in Wilmington. Let’s take a look at some highlights.

Warm up for the Wilmington Dark History Tour with this excerpt of John Collet's 1770 map of North Carolina depicting the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
history tour in north carolina
John Collet, J. Bayly, S. Hooper(Life time: c. 1789 – Collet), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Battle of Cape Fear River was fought in September 1718 led by William Rhett and a group of pirate ships under the command of Stede Bonnet. The pirates were defeated.
The Wilmington History Walk Tour also includes the shimmering Cape Fear River as seen here from the Wilmington Riverwalk with the distant Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
Jason W. Smith, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Battleship North Carolina is also a favorite National Historic Landmark and beloved Memorial to the 11,000+ North Carolinians who made the ultimate sacrifice.
history tour in north carolina
Theresa C/Tripadvisor
The Wilmington Historic District is full of old architecture, structures, and important stories.
history tour in north carolina
Keep Life Simple/Tripadvisor

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You will also learn about the daring "Great Escape” by William B. Gould and other enslaved people during the Civil War Wilmington Walking Tour.
history tour in north carolina
AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Oakdale Cemetery Walking Tour offers historic highlights from various people buried in this sacred ground.
Samira Davis Coldwell Banker Seacoast/Tripadvisor
One is the courageous Rose O'Neal Greenhow, a spy for the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
history tour in north carolina
Alexander Gardner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
This 1862 clipping in prison features her daughter Rose.
She was so dedicated to the South that during the Civil War, she wrote ciphered (secret code) messages to the Confederates, supplying information about Union military plans.
history tour in north carolina
Русский: Гринхау, Роуз О'Нил (1817-1864)Français : Greenhow, Rose O'Neal (1817-1864)English: Greenhow, Rose O'Neal (1817-1864)中文：格林豪, 罗丝·奥尼尔 (1817-1864)Português: Greenhow, Rose O'Neal (1817-1864)العربية: غرينهاو, روز أونيل (1817-1864)Español: Greenhow, Rose O'Neal (1817-1864), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Here is one of her encoded letters. Just wait until you hear the rest of the story!
You’ll also see the gravesite of a heroic firefighter and his loyal dog whose lives were claimed by a deadly fire.
cheryl h/Tripadvisor
We adore this loving tribute.

Choose a history tour in North Carolina on the Wilmington True History Tours website. Then call to book the tour or ask questions at 423-292-1304.

For more history about Wilmington, order this eBook from Barnes and Noble. And while you’re visiting this pretty coastal town, check out the magical Masonboro Island Reserve.

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Historic District, Wilmington, NC 28401, USA