The hand-painted walls of the Dudley Mansion, at 400 S. Front St. in downtown Wilmington, gleam as morning light streams through a window in the 10,000-square-foot home's front room.
 
The historic house, built in 1825 for North Carolina's first governor, Edward Dudley, is for sale for nearly $3 million. The listing agent is Jessica Edwards of The Carolinas Finest team of Wilmington-based Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage.
 
In the 1880s, the Dudley Mansion was purchased by Pembroke and Sarah Jones of Airlie Gardens fame and was also owned by cotton exporter James Sprunt, among other well-known North Carolinians. The current owner is Kimberly Hayden, who has lived there for about five years, moving in after a yearlong renovation project.  

(Photo by Kevin Kleitches)