History and hauntings intertwine on theatrical tours, where chilling stories keep the city’s legends alive
As twilight spills over Wilmington’s brick-lined streets, a hush seems to fall over the centuries-old buildings. Footsteps echo. Shadows flicker. And then, the stories begin.
At first glance, Wilmington is a Southern postcard—moss-draped oaks, antebellum homes, cobblestone alleys. But peel back the layers of paint and plaster, and a different city emerges: one brimming with tales of tragedy, mystery and lingering spirits. Every night, residents and visitors alike follow storytellers down darkened streets in search of what lies beneath the surface.
Ghost tours have become a signature experience in Wilmington, from haunted pub crawls and graveyard walks to true-crime strolls and overnight investigations aboard the USS North Carolina. But their appeal lies in more than just jump scares or glowing orbs. These stories endure—are even craved—because they offer something richer: a visceral, goosebump-inducing link to the city’s complex and often hidden history…