Historic Wilmington NC Building Photo from 1771

Frances Benjamin Johnston captured this vintage photograph in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, showcasing a historic structure built in 1771. This building serves as the headquarters of the North Carolina Society of Colonial Dames of America. The photograph is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, an initiative aimed at documenting significant architectural sites in the region.

The image highlights key architectural features such as elegant capitals, doorways with fanlights and sidelights, and prominent stairways, reflecting the craftsmanship of the period. Johnston’s work provides a valuable glimpse into the architectural heritage and historical context of early North Carolina.

Acquired from the Frances Benjamin Johnston estate in 1953, this photograph is a part of the collection at the Library of Congress, documented in the publication The Early Architecture of North Carolina by Thomas Tileston Waterman.

KNOWOLs historic images connect the rich stories and imagery of our past. A statement in any room, each is printed on museum-quality paper using a restored version of the original.