Downtown Wilmington and its 1.75-mile Riverwalk: museums, historic houses, Thalian Hall, the Cotton Exchange, events, parking decks and free parking times.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts come from the City of Wilmington’s Riverwalk and parking pages, Wilmington Downtown Inc. and each venue’s own website, linked below.

Downtown Wilmington runs along the east bank of the Cape Fear River, with the Battleship across the water. Its spine is the Riverwalk, which the city calls its “No. 1 Tourist Attraction,” and behind it a grid of 19th-century streets with museums, historic houses, a working 1858 theater and most of the city’s restaurants and bars.

Who to call

  • Downtown parking (Park Wilmington): 910-762-5678
  • Wilmington Downtown Inc. (events): wilmingtondowntown.com
  • Thalian Hall box office: 910-632-2285
  • Emergency: 911

The Riverwalk

“Wilmington’s Riverwalk stretches 1.75 miles along the bank of the Cape Fear River,” from the foot of Nun Street in the south to the Isabel Holmes Bridge in the north, the city says. Along the way are parks, shops, restaurants and museums, views of the Battleship, historical signs and public art.

  • Orange Street Landing is part of the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
  • The Riverwalk links to the River to Sea Bikeway, the East Coast Greenway and the Cape Fear Historic Byway. See walking and biking trails.
  • USA Today named it the country’s best riverfront in 2015, the city notes. The full 1.75 miles took about 30 years to finish.
  • A multi-year decking replacement began in spring 2025.
  • Boaters can tie up at the public docks.

Riverfront Park, 10 Cowan St., at the north end, has a playground, restrooms and the Live Oak Bank Pavilion, the city’s concert and event venue. The Saturday Riverfront Farmers Market sets up on Dock Street between Second and Water streets in season. See farmers markets.

Museums and historic houses

Place Address Hours Admission
Cape Fear Museum 230 Grace St. Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 1-5 p.m. Adults $16; county residents half off
Children’s Museum of Wilmington 116 Orange St. Tue-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 1-5 p.m. $10
Wilmington Railroad Museum 505 Nutt St. Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (longer in summer) Adults $12
Bellamy Mansion Museum 503 Market St. Mon-Fri 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults $16 self-guided
Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens 224 Market St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See website
Latimer House 126 S. Third St. Call to confirm See website
  • The Cape Fear Museum is now open in its new home on Grace Street, with a planetarium; the old Market Street building is now its collections and research campus (visitor info).
  • The Bellamy Mansion is a Preservation North Carolina property; guided premium tours run when available (website).
  • The Burgwin-Wright House, built in 1770, holds seasonal craft markets and a December holiday open house; 910-762-0570 (website).
  • The Latimer House runs night tours by gaslight and closes on several holidays (tours).
  • Children’s Museum and Railroad Museum details are in our kids’ activities guide.

Thalian Hall and the Cotton Exchange

Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St., has stood on Third Street between Princess and Chestnut streets since 1858 and shares its building with City Hall. It hosts touring shows, local theater and films; box office noon to 5 p.m. weekdays and an hour before curtain (website).

The Cotton Exchange, on North Front and Water streets at Grace Street, is a cluster of restored brick buildings with shops and restaurants, including The Basics. See our brunch guide.

Events

Wilmington Downtown Inc. lists downtown events on its events page, from concerts at the Live Oak Bank Pavilion to the Great Downtown Pumpkin Hunt on Halloween. The city’s Holiday Parade runs on Front Street (Sunday, Nov. 29, in 2026), and the city’s Fourth of July fireworks are downtown. See Halloween events, Christmas parade and tree lighting and Fourth of July fireworks.

Parking

The city’s parking page lists:

Deck Address First hour
Market Street Deck 115 Market St. Free
2nd Street Deck 114 N. Second St. Free
River Place Deck 14 Grace St. $2
Skyline Deck 155 Brunswick St. $1
Convention Center Deck N. Water St. at Estell Lee Drive $3
  • Street meters cost $1.50 an hour, or $3 on core downtown streets, enforced 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They are free after 6:30 p.m., all day Sunday and on city holidays.
  • Decks run 24 hours; most charge a $10 night rate from 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
  • Through Dec. 26, 2026, the Market Street and 2nd Street decks charge a flat $5 on Saturdays.

What this means for you

  • Park in the Market Street or 2nd Street deck for a short visit: the first hour is free.
  • Walk the Riverwalk end to end in under an hour; it is 1.75 miles.
  • Sunday is free on the street.

Related: date night, live music and nightlife and history and landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Wilmington Riverwalk?

1.75 miles along the Cape Fear River, from the foot of Nun Street to the Isabel Holmes Bridge. The city calls it its No. 1 tourist attraction.

Where do I park in downtown Wilmington?

The city runs five decks: Market Street (115 Market St.) and 2nd Street (114 N. Second St.), both with the first hour free, plus River Place (14 Grace St.), Skyline (155 Brunswick St.) and the convention center deck. Street meters are free after 6:30 p.m. and on Sundays.

What museums are in downtown Wilmington?

The Cape Fear Museum at 230 Grace St., the Children’s Museum of Wilmington at 116 Orange St., the Wilmington Railroad Museum at 505 Nutt St., and the historic Bellamy Mansion, Burgwin-Wright House and Latimer House.

Is parking free in downtown Wilmington on Sunday?

Yes. On-street meters are free all day Sunday and after 6:30 p.m. every day; decks charge their posted rates around the clock.