As Confederate monuments come down across the country, the historic Bellamy Mansion’s intertwined stories of Southern prosperity and slavery have only invited more questions about the history of the 160-year-old Wilmington residence and what it has to say about the city’s past and present.

This week’s episode of the Cape Fear Unearthed local history podcast digs deep into those questions with an exploration of its defining family and their ties to the Confederacy; the experiences of the Black men and women, both enslaved and free, who built and ran the house; and what role the mansion now plays in the conversations of race and politics.

Joining this extended episode are Bellamy Mansion Museum director Gareth Evans and operations manager/site historian Leslie Randle-Morton, who talk about the history of the house after the war, the involvement of the Bellamys in politics and major events like the 1898 Wilmington Coup, and why the house can be such a valuable resource today, especially in 2020.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram. Additional editing by Adam Fish.

The show is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry, Tidewater Heating & Air Conditioning, and Cape Fear Pharmacy.

Sources
"The Bellamy Mansion: An Antebellum Architectural Treasure and Its People," by Catherine Bishir
"Back with the Tide," by Ellen Bellamy
Bellamy Mansion Museum online resources, including "The People" and "The Place"

As Confederate monuments come down across the country, the historic Bellamy Mansion&rsquo;s intertwined stories of Southern prosperity and slavery have only invited more questions about the history of the 160-year-old Wilmington residence and what it has to say about the city&rsquo;s past and present.
This week&rsquo;s episode of the Cape Fear Unearthed local history podcast digs deep into those questions with an exploration of its defining family and their ties to the Confederacy; the experiences of the Black men and women, both enslaved and free, who built and ran the house; and what role the mansion now plays in the conversations of race and politics.
Joining this extended episode are Bellamy Mansion Museum director Gareth Evans and operations manager/site historian Leslie Randle-Morton, who talk about the history of the house after the war, the involvement of the Bellamys in politics and major events like the 1898 Wilmington Coup, and why the house can be such a valuable resource today, especially in 2020.
Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram. Additional editing by Adam Fish.
The show is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry, Tidewater Heating &amp; Air Conditioning, and Cape Fear Pharmacy.
Sources
<ul>
<li>"The Bellamy Mansion: An Antebellum Architectural Treasure and Its People," by Catherine Bishir</li>
<li>"Back with the Tide," by Ellen Bellamy</li>
<li>Bellamy Mansion Museum online resources, including "The People" and "The Place"</li>
</ul>

StarNews Media Presents "Cape Fear Unearthed," a podcast digging into the history books of Southeastern North Carolina. The weekly podcast will feature stories drawn from the region's persisting legends, historical oddities and mysterious figures that have helped shape its legacy and culture.

Cape Fear Unearthed

For many, the antebellum era in Wilmington is defined by the Bellamy Mansion. This week, we look at home built for John D. Bellamy and his large family at the outset of the Civil War and why it has become a essential historic site in understanding Wilmington's racial and political history.

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