Friday, April 6, 2012


Coming to Visit Historic Wilmington, North Carolina this summer? 

Tour Group Discounts

5 Star Story Tellers!

Always a great day for a Haunted Cotton Exchange or
History Walking Tour!


Group Discounts with 10 or more, age 12 and under FREE with adult.  Great for bus tours groups, clubs,schools, family reunions, company outings, fund raisers..
Fun for the whole family!


Call for Tour Times
Call 910-409-4300
info.touroldwilmington@gmail.com

The Kenan Fountain



Market Street & Fifth Avenue


An architectural gem, the Kenan Memorial Fountain was erected in 1921 in the middle of the large intersection of Fifth Avenue and Market Street. Wilmington native, William Rand Kenan, Jr., gave the fountain to the city to memorialize his parents, William Rand and Mary Hargrave Kenan.  Carrere and Hastings of New York, a respected architectural firm that designed the New York Public Library, drew the plans for the fountain.  It was made out of Indiana limestone and cost $43,000.   The fountain was sculpted in New York, then dismantled and shipped to Wilmington where it was rebuilt.

When Mr. Kenan gave the fountain to the city most residents still walked or took a streetcar. However, some pessimistic citizens predicted that it would become a traffic hazard.  Their forecast came true as the city grew and automobiles became a preferred mode of transportation.  

 Source: A Pictorial History of Wilmington by Anne Russell
To purchase the book please visit the Two Sisters Bookery @ the Cotton Exchange in Wilmington NC

Fred the Ghost Wilmington NC

Welcome to Tour Old Wilmington's new blog site!

Fred the Ghost, pictured below is a great example of local spooky lore.

I took this picture in Paddy Hollows located in The Cotton Exchange in beautiful downtown Wilmington NC. It was about 4:oo pm in the afternoon. I had just finished talking to the bartender about the possibility of ghost haunting the old place. Goofing around, I took several pictures. In this one you can see the face of Fred the Ghost.
He is said to haunt the bar and loves to pull practicaljokes on the restaurant staff.

Bellamy Mansion

Bellamy Mansion
Slave Quarters

Bellamy Mansion

Bellamy Mansion

Honnet House

Honnet House
1881-1882