historic house tours in wilmington nc

Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, INC.

The Latimer House

Immerse yourself in the grandeur of nineteenth-century wilmington society, welcome to the latimer house.

Step into the remarkable realm of the Latimer House Museum and Gardens, a treasured cornerstone of Wilmington’s rich historical legacy. Built in the early 1850s, this well-preserved home situated in the heart of downtown Wilmington invites you to delve into the history of our region. As you traverse the timeless halls of the Latimer House, ready yourself for a captivating voyage to the Victorian era in North Carolina, vividly brought to life by the shared experiences and enduring legacy of three generations of the Latimer family.

Exploring the Wonders of Latimer House

Immersive Experiences at the Latimer House: Your Gateway to Wilmington’s Victorian Era

Explore the House

Journey back through time at the Latimer House Museum and Gardens, a living testament to Wilmington’s Victorian history. We invite you to experience firsthand the rich legacy of the Latimer family, as you explore the opulent rooms and verdant gardens of this preserved architectural gem. Expert docents are on hand to answer questions and discuss the history of the family and era.

By Appointment:

The latimer archive.

Whether you are a scholar or history enthusiast, the Latimer Archive promises a fascinating journey through the lower Cape Fear region’s past. Here, a treasure trove of documents, books, and photographs await, offering remarkable insights into a region with a lengthy and sometimes controversial history.

Donate or Volunteer

Become an integral part of the Latimer House Museum and Gardens’ mission to preserve and share the rich history of Wilmington’s Victorian era and beyond. Your generous donation or volunteer time will contribute directly to the ongoing upkeep of this architectural treasure and its beautiful gardens. Join us in maintaining this historical legacy for present and future generations.

Attend an Event

Experience the grandeur of the past by attending one of our events at the Latimer House. We offer something for everyone, such as classical music performances, book talks, and holiday events. Our goal is to share this wonderful and unique space with visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Join us and become a part of the living history that is the Latimer House experience.

What Our Visitors Say

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. It’s a beautiful house with an interesting past. Highly recommended!

Local Guide ( Google )

This was such a great tour! Our tour guide was very well educated and animated about the information she was sharing. We really enjoyed our time at Latimer House.

Erin McDermott

Reviewer ( Google )

Excellent tour by tour guide. It was nice to go into every room and get up close to items since this isn’t usually the norm!

Angie Frost

• Gullah Geechee Corridor
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Museum Tours

Closed for the Season

Left Melvina Dozier Foy; seated Nora Dozier Foy; Leslie Foy; standing Francis Marion Foy; Cleveland Nixon holding George Nixon, c. 1896

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”   —”Letter from Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Poplar grove is currently closed for the season to prepare for all is bright: a holida y of lights , starting thanksgiving weekend through december 23rd., fo r more closed for season information, p lease click :  tour schedule & prices., public statement.

The history of Scotts Hill, Pender County, North Carolina is reflected in this historic site. History is always moving, and continues to shape how we move forward as an historic site.

Black history is American history. The G ullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission (GGCHCC), of which Poplar Grove is a part, recognizes that “Historic sites carry potent literal and symbolic messages across generations. We (GGCHCC) encourage you to visit them this summer and ask yourself important questions about the history they share and the stories that are left out.” 

What stories will Poplar Grove carry forward? Part of Poplar Grove’s mission is to initiate meaningful dialogue that builds upon the values of respect, empathy, cultural diversity, multiple perspectives, and democratic principles, and it is our desire to shine light on the generations of enslaved peoples at Scotts Hill whose legacies are especially relevant today.

We will be restructuring our exhibits and tour texts with information about the history of Poplar Grove and the important role of the Gullah Geechee people in our community. More importantly, we will provide a safe space in which to pause, reflect, listen and learn with the exact purpose of viewing American history through the lens of a collective and shared experience, of our collective humanity – locally, nationally, globally, spiritually.

Poplar Grove Foundation, Inc., June, 1, 2020, December 16, 2020, March 1, 2021

EXPLORE HISTORY: EXPLORE THE WORLD

Winter Bedroom

The museum complex is sustained through the continuing efforts of Poplar Grove Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit Public Charity, dedicated to education, conservation, and preservation. The current manor house was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1980 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The 15+ remaining acres left of the original homestead are under the stewardship of the  North Carolina Coastal Land Trust .

Poplar Grove Foundation, Inc. seeks to shed light on this pre-Revolutionary War planter family who originally settled in New Bern, NC, from Baltimore, Maryland circa 1760. Foy family members and those people this family enslaved played an integral part in eastern North Carolina’s agricultural development and actively participated in North Carolina’s Revolutionary War.  The land, and its original manor house, mill pond, brick kiln, and out buildings, was purchased in 1795 by James Foy, Jr. of New Bern, NC, from the estate of Cornelius Harnett, a leading Revolutionary North Carolinian politician.

After the original homestead burned circa 1849, Joseph Mumford Foy, the grandson of James Foy, Jr., chose to construct his new home closer to the Old New Bern Road, which would later become the Wilmington and Topsail Sound Plank Road. The current manor house was built circa 1850, constructed and maintained by the skills of enslaved men and women within the Foy family as well as from enslaved male artisans of neighboring planter families, such as Nicholas Nixon of Porters Neck, David Ward Simmons of New Bern, NC, and the Doziers of Brittons Neck, SC.

The family ties of the Foys and those families kept in bondage remained tightly woven between and among and through multiple generations of white Foy family descendants and those families of the enslaved. To keep accumulated wealth within geographical and agricultural patterns, southeastern NC planters made a practice of marrying sons and daughters to neighboring planters with similar crop valuations. Routinely, newlyweds of planter families were provided a dowry of enslaved people from respective families, so the younger newly apprenticed and oftentimes oldest members of the enslaved could more readily establish new households and assume the agricultural duties of a gifted portion of the estate. 

Leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s presidential nomination for the Republican Party, Joseph Mumford Foy held fast to his Unionist ties, the foundation of which were built upon the family’s active participation and service during the Revolutionary War.  While North Carolinian planters hotly debated the role of the Federal government in determining the emancipation of enslaved Americans, parts of the South were already discussing succession. After Ft. Sumter, South Carolina  was fired upon by Confederate militia on April 12, 1861,  North Carolina was  the last Southern state to join the Confederacy on May 1, 1861. 

I n the October 2013 issue of Our State , Burial and Mourning at Poplar Grove  by Philip Gerard, highlights the role of Joseph Mumford Foy’s wife, Mary Ann Simmons Foy during the Civil War. Her Unionist allegiance in honor of her dead husband and in service to her nation stood steadfast in the face of opposing forces. Her recently deceased husband had declared “Union forever” in a letter to their eldest son, David, during the fall Presidential election campaign of Abraham Lincoln, a contradiction of political and social ideas among the coastal planters who owned slaves but had strong ties to the Revolutionary War.

Slave Schedule of Joseph Mumford Foy August 1860 Topsail Sound

Notably, the enslaved people of the Foy family as well as the enslaved communities of neighboring planters knew intimately the shoreline, creeks, swamps, riverbeds and estuaries of the Cape Fear, and thus excellent pilots, boatmen and fishermen. However, the skills and talents of the enslaved people of Poplar Grove are best reflected in the successful cultivation of peanuts and sweet potatoes in the sandy loamy coastal soil, and though rarely recognized, were the engineering and artisan skills of the enslaved males who constructed the current manor house from on-site materials circa 1850-1853. The mill pond that still lies within the Abbey Nature Preserve and accessed by the original farm road that cut through the fields help to produce most of the construction materials.

From foundation to rooftop to the interior of the home’s horsehair plaster walls & crown molding to the heart pine floors and black walnut staircase, the three-story manor house stands today as a testament to these little recognized individuals who, like the neighboring plantations along the coastal highway of North Carolina, are part of the Gullah Geechee Corridor with its revolutionary roots  leading up to Civil War through the Wilmington Race Massacre of 1898, the Jim Crow Movement of the early 20th century and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.

Within the museum complex is the original smokehouse, kitchen shed, carriage house, and the last remaining tenant house belonging to Nimrod Nixon, whose brother Cleveland Nixon is pictured at the top left of this page. Nimrod Nixon served in WWII, at the same time his employer son’s, Robert Lee Foy, Jr., served. Mr. Nixon returned to Poplar Grove after the war and lived in the surviving tenant house without running water and electricity until the late 1950s when Robert Lee Foy, Jr. inherited the farm lands, outbuildings and manor house of Poplar Grove from his father, Robert Lee Foy, Sr.

Three heritage art studios are on site for viewing: the Basket Gallery, the Print Shop and Blacksmith Shop, in addition to an Agricultural Exhibit housing a peanut thrasher and information on the production of peanuts and the Gullah Geechee peoples. This space is currently being expanded to include more specific information regarding the tenant families whom remained on site through WWII.

The Foundation would like to thank Dr. Kimberly Sherman, consulting historian, for conducting early research and providing historical and political context to the Foy family archives located both on the property and in the  Robert Lee Foy Collection  at the Joyner Library at East Carolina University as well as Beverly Smalls, Bertha Todd, and Karene Manley for their invaluable input, and the ongoing research of the enslaved and their descendants by Caroline C. Lewis, Executive Director.

We are honored to exhibit, From Civil War to Civil Rights: The African American Experience at Poplar Grove , which opened on  June 19, 2014.  This permanent display is free to the public and located in the lower level of the Manor House. The project was made possible in part by funding from the North Carolina Humanities Council , a statewide non-profit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities .

From Civil War to Civil Rights  from Poplar Grove on Vimeo .

Azalea Festival Home Tour: CANCELLED

A note from hwf executive director, beth rutledge.

At Historic Wilmington Foundation, our community means everything. Because our members, volunteers, sponsors, donors, Board and staff are priceless, we are encouraging everyone to follow safety measures outlined by health officials regarding COVID-19.

This means we are canceling our 2020 Azalea Festival Home Tour.

A beloved annual tradition, the Azalea Festival Home Tour invites travelers to explore Wilmington’s extraordinary historic homes and connects local residents even more deeply with their community. Each year, the tour raises awareness about the importance of historic preservation and strengthens our city’s sense of place. However, preserving the health and safety of our neighbors is paramount.

We greatly appreciate the efforts and excitement already invested in this year’s event.  HWF is offering refunds for those who have already purchased Home Tour tickets. If ticket-holders would prefer to consider the ticket cost a donation, please feel free to contact our office at 910.762.2511 so that we may issue a donation receipt.

Our cherished Home Tour tradition will resume for the 2021 Azalea Festival. For now, we are wishing wellness for our neighbors and friends.

Thanks so much,  Beth Rutledge HWF Executive Director

call or text 910.264.5970 [email protected]

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Wilmington's Best Walking Tours OFFERED daily

Walking tours in downtown wilmington, nc. fun things to do in wilmington..

Enjoy one of the best things to do in Wilmington.  

Reserve a morning walking tour or a happy hour wine stroll in historic Wilmington.

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Discover the Best of Historic Wilmington, NC walking tours

History and Architecture Walking Tour 3 x daily including sunset!

1Hr 40 Mins | $25

Wine Bar and History Stroll

2 Hrs 15 Mins | $30

Historic SOUTHPORT Walking Tour

1 Hr 15 Mins | $20

Wilmington Victorians by Candlelight

1 Hr 30Mins | $20

Scroll down to book. Cash, Venmo & Paypal are accepted.

History & architecture tour daily, 9:30am & 11:30am. sunset tours on select days. other times on request. groups welcome pre-payment not required., pub crawls and scavenger hunts for groups available for groups of 8 or more. any day based on availability..

Walking tour in Historic downtown Wilmington. One and a half mile, 1 1/2 hour walking loop through residential, church and commercial districts. 

Learn about town from colonial to current day.  See the city's most significant buildings. Discuss  economy, the Confederacy, race relations and the film industry. 

**book for more than 1 guest by adding additional service when in the cart**

$25 per person

Historic Wine Bar Stroll Saturdays EVENINGS. Private Groups/other days on Request! pre-payment required.

One and a half mile, apprtox. 2 1/4 hour walking tour loop through old Wilmington including residential, church and commercial districts. 

Same tour as History and Architecture, added  fun with a start, mid-point and finishing stop at local watering holes. 

**book for more than 1 guest by adding additional service when in the cart

$30 per person (drinks not included) 

Private group tours and events include:

  * 4 stop guided craft brew pub crawl & history tour 

* Team scavenger hunt in downtown Wilmington

*Custom group wine bar or craft brew scavenger hunt in Wilmington  (clues lead you to drinks) prizes included

Prices range from $20 - $30 per guest - please inquire via email 

HI, I'm Amanda

I am combining my passions of History , Architecture and Wine into walking tour offerings in Historic Wilmington, NC. I look forward to meeting you and showing you my adopted hometown. Come along and enjoy one of the most fun things to do in Wilmington!

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Dates and times available with advance reservations, history and architecture tour, 9:30 am or 11:30am, sunset or 8am available on select days in summer or on request.

meets on the Riverwalk at the corner of Water and Orange Streets

other times available by request.

Historic Wine Bar Stroll

6pm, march- may, later in summer.

meet at The Dram Yard Gazebo Bar on 2nd Street

other days & times available on request for groups of 6 or more.

Group events on request

Craft brewery pub crawl, scavenger hunts, southport tour or custom wine/ craft brew hunts.

message me or email for details and prices : [email protected]

 currently available for groups of 8 or more. 

Private Tours available. Just message or email me: [email protected]

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For small groups, I can customize a walking tour in Historic downtown Wilmington itinerary to emphasize your interests. If you have a special request, send me a message, and we will be sure to get back to you soon.

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Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens

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Guided & Self-Guided Tours

Rich in history and folklore, Wilmington and our Island Beaches are known for beauty, charm and down-to-earth hospitality. Book a guided tour during your visit and let local experts show you everything we have to offer—from our historical landmarks to our modern-day points of interest. Or, embark on a self-guided adventure with maps and apps as your guide.

Historic Homes Tours

Walking tours, tours on wheels, haunted tours.

• Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Artistic Tours

• Food & Brew Tours

Explore the splendor of Wilmington's three historic house museums. Experience the architectural wonders of the historic  Bellamy Mansion Museum of History and Design , the Colonial-era  Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens  and the Victorian-era  Latimer House Museum . All three of these homes offer tours that provide a glimpse into the history of prominent families who once called Wilmington home.

If history is your passion, let  Tour Old Wilmington  take you to the many landmarks which make our historic downtown notable.

Bibliophiles and history buffs alike will want to check out  Old Books on Front Street , which offers weekly Literary History Walking Tours. Venture down the streets of famous novels and into the lives of authors who passed through and lived in Wilmington.

Learn all about carnivorous plants at Carolina Beach State Park with ranger-led hikes year-round on Saturdays.

Experience downtown Wilmington and our 230-block National Register Historic District at the pace of days gone by on a  horse-drawn tour . Let Springbrook Farms' rescued Percheron draft horses and a costumed carriage driver guide you on a narrated journey through our beautiful coastal city.

Wilmington has been called one of the most actively haunted cities in the world. Book one of our local haunted tours and get in touch with our paranormal side. Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington will take you on an eerie adventure through the past with stories and encounters of haunted homes and burial grounds. The Haunted Cotton Exchange Tour leads guests through the former cotton market—now a collection of boutique shops and restaurants—one of the most haunted locations in Wilmington. For the beer (and ghost) lovers, the Haunted Pub Crawl raises a glass to the most ghostly downtown pubs.

Behind-the-Scenes

Head "behind the hatch" at the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA and search through the hidden nooks and crannies from the inner bottom of the ship's hull all the way to the top of the fire control tower. This guided tour is available October through May, and reservations are required one month in advance.  Cameron Art Museum offers weekly exhibition tours where visitors get an insider's look at current exhibitions tailored to meet their interests.

In Kure Beach, bring the family to North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher for a special behind the scenes tour. Explore the animal holding area and husbandry, get backstage access to exhibits and more. 

Make your way to one of America's most beautiful and historic theatres,  Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts , for a one-hour guided tour of the theater that has been in operation since 1858. Tours may include the main lobby, historic 1858 lobby, historic 1858 Thalian Hall main stage, historic gallery level, Studio Theatre and backstage areas.

Get the inside scoop on Wilmington’s vibrant arts and culture scene with the Arts Council of Wilmington . Find info on the various arts venues, local artists and pedestrian art installations throughout the city. See temporary installations of sculptures throughout the city on a self-guided tour as part of the Arts Council's  Ped Art program .

Take a walk with the  Wrightsville Beach Museum of History  on their self-guided "Loop Through History" for a glimpse into the history of this beautiful island beach community.

Food & Brew Tours

Beer lovers can create their own self-guided tour with the help of the Wilmington Ale Trail , a map to breweries and bottle shops in Wilmington.

Craft cocktail lovers will enjoy a visit to the award-winning End of Days Distillery , where a behind-the-scenes tour shows visitors the process of sourcing, fermentation, distillation and finishing. Tour group size is limited and reservations are encouraged.

Sample numerous local favorites, famous hotspots and coastal flavors on a gourmet food tour with  Taste Carolina . Their Downtown Tasting Tour offers the opportunity to enjoy local food and drink, meet the chefs, and learn about historic downtown.

Capture the flavor of Carolina Beach on the Tasting History Tour . Walk through the streets of Carolina Beach on this guided tour and into several of its most popular restaurants to taste some of what the locals have to offer. 

Embark on a self-guided tour with the Wilmington History smartphone app. Guided by your device's GPS coordinates, choose from the African American History Tour, Pub Crawl, Civil War or Old Wilmington tours and explore at your own pace.

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Historic Home Night Tours

Experience colonial nightlife at the Burgwin-Wright House every first Friday of the Month. Join in the fun  on Friday, January 15th, 2021 to tour the historic home after hours.

Tour the candlelit mansion and learn about the rituals and superstitions that dominated life after dark in bygone days. See what life was like without electricity and modern conveniences.

Registration is required and admission for the tour is $12, regular tour discounts do not apply.

Space is limited, so advance registration is required.

Call  (910) 762-0570  or email  [email protected]

History of The Burgwin-Wright Home

The Burgwin-Wright House was built in 1770 on top of the first city jail of Wilmington, circa 1744, as a townhouse for John Burgwin to use as his seat of business and entertainment in Wilmington. Burgwin, was a successful merchant and planter in New Hanover County, and the private secretary to the last two royal governors of North Carolina as well as the treasurer for the colony. After breaking his leg in 1775, he returned to England citing medical reasons although it was well known he was unable to give up his Loyalist (Tory) convictions. While away, all his properties were confiscated until he sought and received a pardon after the war according to the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1783.

After his pardon, Burgwin sold the house, in 1799, to Joshua Grainger Wright, whose mother had rented the house from Burgwin during the war. Near the end of the Revolutionary War, the British captured Wilmington, and in 1781, Lord Cornwallis occupied it for three weeks. During this time, Cornwallis used the house one evening to entertain his officers due to its size, location, and prestige. This brief interlude led to the house being referred to locally as “The Cornwallis House.”

In 1930, the house was in disrepair and the property was put up for sale. Standard Oil immediately took interest in the lot for a gas station. However, the community and the NSCDA-NC campaigned for seven years and ultimately purchased the house in 1937, thus saving one of the oldest structures in Wilmington. Over the years, the house was restored and opened its doors to the public in 1951 as a museum house.

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  Bellamy Mansion © Brownie Harris          Civil War Reenactment         

Wilmington, NC · Kure Beach · Carolina Beach · Wrightsville Beach

New Hanover County, North Carolina

National Register of Historic Places

Wilmington, North Carolina and the Cape Fear Coast, part of one of America’s original Thirteen Colonies, have a rich history.  History buffs can explore interesting historic sites including those related to Native American Indians; American Revolution also known as the Revolutionary War when the Thirteen Colonies broke from the British Crown (1775-83); Industrial Revolution; Civil War also known as the War Between the States (1861-65); and, World War II (1939-45).

Wilmington NC history is an important part of American history.  The City of Wilmington, North Carolina was incorporated in 1741 and named in honor of Spencer Compton, the Earl of Wilmington, before the United States of America was created on July 4, 1776 .  It is located on the banks of the Cape Fear River, has the largest historic district of any urban area in the state, and reportedly is the third largest in the United States.  Wilmington NC is the first American World War II Heritage City in the United States.

The United States Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1776.  Three North Carolinians signed the Declaration of Independence.  William Hooper , a lawyer from Wilmington, was one of the signers.  In 1914, the William Hooper School located on Mears Street between South 4th and South 5th Streets in Wilmington was named in his honor.  The William Hooper School listed on the National Register of Historic Places closed in 1984.

Wrightsville Beach was incorporated as a town on March 6, 1899.  It is named after Joshua Grainger Wright and the Wright family of Wilmington.

Carolina Beach was incorporated as a town in 1925.

Kure Beach was founded in the early 1900s by Hans Andersen Kure, a native of Denmark.  It was incorporated as a town in April 1947.

We respect the perspectives of all individuals in relation to historic places that should be put in context.  The historical sites are provided for educational purposes as part of a comprehensive tourism experience.  This page brings you there.  Further research placing you back in time will help convey the full import of the location.

Historic Sites

1898 Memorial

– Wilmington      map

1898 Wilmington Race Riot Report

– Wilmington

African American Heritage – “A Guide to Wilmington’s African American Heritage” Religious, educational, social, and cultural sites

America’s First “World War II Heritage City” – Wilmington, North Carolina

Audubon Trolley Station

Basilica Shrine of Saint Mar y

Bellamy Mansion Museum of History & Design Arts

Bradley-Latimer Summer House

– Wrightsville Beach      map

Brookwood Historic District

Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens

Cape Fear Civil War Shipwreck Distri ct

– Kure Beach, Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Wilmington

Carolina Heights Historic District

Carolina Place Historic District

City Hall / Thalian Hall

Delgrado School

Federal Building and Courthouse

Federal Point History Center

– Carolina Beach      map

First Baptist Church

– Wilmington      map  

First Presbyterian Church

– Kure Beach      map

Fort Fisher During World War II

Gabriel’s Landing

Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor

– Coastal North Carolina      map

Hannah Block Historic WWII USO Center Museum

Historic Wilmington Foundation Preserved Buildings

– Wilmington    map

Historic Wilmington Foundation Downtown Plaque Map

William Hooper School (Former)

Jacob’s Run Tunnels

Latimer House

Joy Lee Apartment Building and Annex

Market Street Mansion District

Masonboro Sound Historic District

Moores Creek National Battlefield

– Currie      map

Mount Lebanon Chapel and Cemetery

Native American Indians – NC American Indian History Timeline – NC Museum of History

Native American Indians – NC Tribal Communities – NC Commission of Indian Affairs

Native American Indians – NC Native Communities – UNC American Indian Center

Native American Indians – Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

Newton Homesite and Cemetery

North Carolina – Civil War Battlefield

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Wilmington Star-News

Calling it 'a homecoming,' historic Wilmington venue Thalian Hall hires new director

Posted: November 15, 2023 | Last updated: November 15, 2023

Thalian Hall named its new director Tuesday, and it's a person with deep ties to the historic and ornate downtown Wilmington theater, which dates to 1858.

Shane Fernando, a Wilmington native who grew up performing and working backstage at Thalian Hall, was named chief executive officer of Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts (THCPA) by the group's board during a ceremony Tuesday evening at the Hall. THCPA is the nonprofit that manages the theater for the city of Wilmington, which owns the building.

Fernando's first day on the job will be Jan. 1. Thalian Hall had been without a permanent, full-time director since the July 2022 death of longtime leader Tony Rivenbark , who ran the venue for more than 42 years.

Fernando is currently the executive and artistic director of Cape Fear Community College's 1,550-seat Wilson Center, which he was instrumental in opening in 2015, and he serves as CFCC's vice president of advancement and the arts. Fernando is also a Thalian Hall board member, and for the past 10 years has served as a paid programming consultant to the Hall, booking acts for its Main Attractions series of touring shows and helping to manage its performance schedule.

The announcement came as something of a surprise. In January, Fernando told the StarNews he wasn't seeking the Thalian Hall job . Over the past year, the venue's board of directors has interviewed numerous candidates as part of a nationwide search and offered the job to at least one other person .

Finding the right fit proved challenging, however, and Fernando ultimately decided to step down from running Wilmington's biggest indoor venue, the place where he launched Wilmington's first-ever series of touring Broadway shows, to take the reins of the theater that he has long said is a deeply meaningful place for him.

"This decision is extremely personal and from the heart," Fernando said. "In many ways, this move is a homecoming, and I have been feeling the pull to 'come home' to the place where my work began in this field over 30 years ago."

In a news release, Terry Espy, president of THCPA's board of trustees, said "we are thrilled to welcome Shane Fernando as our new CEO … We have full confidence in his ability to drive innovation, preserve historic Thalian Hall and lead THCPA to achieve new milestones."

Fernando will become just the second director of Thalian Hall since 1979, or third if you count New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple, who has served as part-time interim director since Rivenbark died last year.

Local legend: Tony Rivenbark, Wilmington cultural giant who made Thalian Hall a destination, dies at 74

Rivenbark is widely credited with reintroducing Thalian Hall to Wilmington at a time when attendance was lagging and the Hall was showing its age. He oversaw multiple major renovations and helped make Thalian into a cultural touchstone that hosts hundreds of events and sees some 100,000 visitors each year.

Fernando and Rivenbark were close friends as well as colleagues. Fernando has called Rivenbark his mentor, and their relationship was key to ensuring that a spirit of collaboration, rather than competition, existed between Thalian Hall and the Wilson Center after the Wilson Center opened in 2015.

"Tony and I talked a great deal about the Hall's future," Fernando said. "New technology, new practices, expansion opportunities and business models for sustainability."

It wasn't immediately clear who the new director of the Wilson Center will be. Also yet to be seen is how the close, almost symbiotic relationship between the two venues inevitably evolves after CFCC hires a new director.

"This spring marks the end of my 10th year at the helm of the Wilson Center," Fernando said. "It has been an amazing journey to build this organization from the ground up, literally starting as the Center's first employee when bulldozers were moving earth. It is at its strongest place since opening, and so many wonderful things on the horizon … The Wilson Center team is strong, and I am confident that they will keep moving forward. That all being said, it feels like a good time to seek new challenges."

It is an interesting juncture in the 165-year history of Thalian Hall. Wilmington's exploding population has grown the venue's audience substantially, but for the first time in the history of the building, which was built as a combination city hall and "opera house," the city of Wilmington will no longer have offices in the building or hold city council meetings there.

Most city offices and departments are currently being consolidated into the former PPD building on Wilmington's Northside, which the city recently purchased. It's selling off most city properties to finance the move, but city officials have said there are no plans to sell Thalian Hall.

All that makes it a time of uncertainty, but also of opportunity.

Between Thalian Hall's main stage, which seats a max of 650, the Stein Studio Theatre (100) and the ballroom, aka Wilmington City Council chambers, which lists its capacity at 175, Thalian Hall can host as many as three events simultaneously, everything from plays and musicals to films, touring concerts and more. Board president Espy said the Hall is planning to upgrade the sound and lighting equipment in the ballroom in hopes of ramping up the number of events there as the room evolves from hosting government meetings to being more of an event space.

"Our regional artists are in desperate need of more space," Fernando said. "Thalian Hall's main stage and Stein Theatre are out of space and time in the calendar, so that will be a major personal focus in my work — identifying short and longterm opportunities to create new spaces for performances, educational programs and spaces that support the development of new music and theater works."

Prior his job at CFCC, Fernando was director of campus life arts and programs at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and taught there as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Communication Studies. He's also directed many plays and musicals, including "Newsies" for Opera House Theatre Co. at Thalian Hall in 2022, which won Best Musical and other awards at the Wilmington Theater Awards in March .

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Calling it 'a homecoming,' historic Wilmington venue Thalian Hall hires new director

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