Wilmington History

Take a tour of Wilmington and learn about the vital role it played for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

No war is ever "civil" and Wilmington endured its share of conflict and hardship, including a deadly yellow-fever epidemic. After the fall of Mobile in August 1864, Wilmington remained the Confederacy’s last major open port, causing General Robert E. Lee to call her “the lifeline of the Confederacy.” (Wilmington plays prominently in Steven Spielberg's 2012 Civil War film Lincoln). After the fall of nearby Fort Fisher and Wilmington in January/February 1865, the war soon ended.

The first 13 stops are downtown and walkable in about 2 hours. However, to visit the last 5, you'll have to drive. Forts Fisher and Anderson are each about a half hour drive (for all intents & purposes, in opposite directions). The Forks Road battle site is a quick stop on your way to or from Fort Fisher. Oakdale and Wilmington National Cemeteries are just five minutes from downtown and are very close to one another. Of course, you can listen to the history of these sites and view their images without actually going there...