Historic District in Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bellamy Mansion

1859-1861

— James F. Post, architect / Rufus Bunnell, asst. architect —

Bellamy Mansion Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

1. Bellamy Mansion Marker

Inscription. Classical style house, built by enslaved and free black artisans, for John Dillard Bellamy (1817-1896), physician, planter, and business leader; and wife, Eliza McIlhenny Harriss (1821-1907). After the fall of Fort Fisher, in 1865, commandeered as Union Army headquarters during the occupation of Wilmington. Remained in family until 1972 when transferred to non- profit Bellamy Mansion Inc. Opened as the Bellamy Museum of History and Design Arts by Preservation North Carolina in 1994.

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the North Carolina, Historic Wilmington Foundation series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 34° 14.16′ N, 77° 56.583′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. It is at the intersection of Market Street (Business U.S. 17) and North 6th Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 503 Market St, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and on the Cape Fear Coast.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William B. Gould (here, next to this marker); The Bellamy Mansion & Slave Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Bellamy Mansion Negro House (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Bellamy Mansion & Slave Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); W. Lincoln Smith House (within shouting distance of this marker); Grant-Thompson House

National Register of Historic Places Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

2. National Register of Historic Places Plaque

(within shouting distance of this marker); Knohl House (within shouting distance of this marker); William J. Price House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Also see . . .
1. Bellamy Mansion. The main house was designed by the architect James F. Post and constructed from 1859 to 1861, and when it was finished, it stood 10,000 square feet, contained twenty-two rooms in total, and was five stories tall. (Beyond the Plaque project, University of North Carolina-Wilmington) (Submitted on December 18, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Wilmington Historic District (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination for the district, which includes this property and was listed in 1974. (Prepared by Survey and Planning Unit, North Carolina Division of Archives and History; via North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office) (Submitted on December 18, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Wilmington Historic District Boundary Expansion and Additional Documentation (PDF). National

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

3. Bellamy Mansion Marker

Register nomination that expanded the district in 2003. (Prepared by Sherry Joines Wyatt and L. Robbie King; via North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office) (Submitted on December 18, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 275 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.