Built in 1852, the Latimer House is an Italianate mansion with elegant columns and ornate Victorian furnishings and displays. Restored Victorian gardens, lace brick walls and a fountain grace the outside. It is a true piece of Wilmington history, having been the home of three generations of the Latimer family before being acquired by the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society.

The Latimer House was purchased by the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society in 1963 and has served as its headquarters since then. The house also contains the Archives of the Society, including extensive material on local history and genealogy.