Beaufort Historic Site – Josiah Bell House

For one of the most genuinely fascinating Civil War-era stories anywhere on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, the Josiah Bell House at the Beaufort Historic Site in Beaufort, NC is a real treasure. Built around 1825, this beautifully restored home was once the residence of the influential Bell family — including the notorious Josiah Fisher Bell, a Confederate agent whose daring wartime exploits add a remarkable chapter to Beaufort’s layered Civil War history.

The Josiah Bell House is one of ten beautifully restored buildings on the grounds of the Beaufort Historic Site. For more on the broader site, check out our companion guide, “Whispers of the Past: Exploring Beaufort’s Historic Treasures.” Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for the Josiah Bell House before you go — or to relive the visit after.

An 1825 Home and the Influential Bell Family

The Josiah Bell House was built around 1825 in what is today the heart of Beaufort’s historic district. The home served as the long-time residence of the influential Bell family — one of the most prominent families in 19th-century coastal Carolina.

The Bell family played a meaningful role in Beaufort’s broader commercial and political life through the 19th century. Their family home reflects the wealth and social standing they enjoyed in the years leading up to the American Civil War.

Josiah Fisher Bell — Confederate Spy

Among the many members of the Bell family, none has a more remarkable story than Josiah Fisher Bell. As an active Confederate agent, Josiah Fisher Bell took part in some of the most daring covert operations along the North Carolina coast during the Civil War.

His most famous wartime act was an attempt to blow up the Cape Lookout lighthouse. The lighthouse, sitting on the southern tip of the Outer Banks, was a strategically important navigational landmark — and its destruction would have hampered Union Navy operations along the broader Atlantic coast.

The attempt ultimately failed, but the story has earned Josiah Fisher Bell a lasting place in Carteret County’s Civil War history. Today, tour guides at the Bell House share his exploits as a reminder of the more shadowy, espionage-driven side of the wartime experience.

Beaufort’s Divided Civil War Loyalties

What makes Josiah Fisher Bell’s story even more genuinely fascinating is the divided nature of Civil War-era Beaufort. While most of the American South was strongly Confederate, coastal NC towns like Beaufort were far more politically split.

By some historical accounts, 40% of Beaufort’s residents supported the Union during the war. The town’s strong maritime trade connections — to the broader Atlantic coast and to Northern shipping ports — created economic and cultural ties that often outweighed regional political pressures.

As a result, Josiah Fisher Bell’s Confederate sympathies were not shared by all his neighbors. The Bell House offers a meaningful window into a town divided — where families, neighbors, and even members of the same household often found themselves on opposite sides of the broader conflict.

Inside the House — Period Furnishings on a 2-Acre Site

Stepping inside the Josiah Bell House offers a beautifully immersive look into mid- to late-19th-century coastal Carolina life. The interior is decorated with Victorian-era and turn-of-the-century period furnishings that reflect how the Bell family lived through the years following the Civil War.

Highlights inside include:

Authentic period furniture from the mid-to-late 19th century
Decorative elements reflecting both Victorian and early Art Nouveau influences
Family heirloom-style displays that bring the Bell family’s daily life into focus

The house sits on a two-acre portion of the broader Beaufort Historic Site grounds, giving visitors plenty of space to explore both the indoor exhibits and the surrounding gardens and outdoor walking paths.

Good to Know

Year built: Around 1825
Original residents: The influential Bell family of Beaufort
Most famous Bell: Josiah Fisher Bell — Confederate agent who attempted to blow up the Cape Lookout lighthouse during the Civil War
Civil War context: Approximately 40% of Beaufort’s residents supported the Union, making the Bell family’s Confederate sympathies a fascinating window into the town’s divided loyalties
Location: Beaufort Historic Site, 130 Turner Street, Beaufort, NC 28516
Interior: Victorian-era and turn-of-the-century period furnishings
Site: On a two-acre portion of the broader Beaufort Historic Site grounds
Tour access: Visit as part of the broader Beaufort Historic Site docent-led walking tour
Operator: Beaufort Historical Association
Best for: Civil War history enthusiasts, true-story buffs, families with curious children, school groups, and visitors interested in 19th-century coastal Carolina life
Pair with: A walk through the Beaufort Historic Site, a visit to the John C. Manson House (also built in 1825), a stop at the Carteret County Courthouse of 1796, an evening on the Beaufort Ghost Walk, or a dinner along the Beaufort waterfront
Located at 130 Turner Street in Beaufort, NC

A Beaufort Highlight

The Josiah Bell House is the kind of stop that genuinely captures the more dramatic chapters of NC’s Civil War history. The 1825 home was the residence of one of the most influential families in early-19th-century Beaufort.

Josiah Fisher Bell’s role as a Confederate agent gives the home its most distinctive story. His attempt to blow up the Cape Lookout lighthouse stands out as one of the boldest wartime exploits in coastal Carolina history.

The broader context makes the story even more layered. With 40% of Beaufort’s residents supporting the Union, Josiah Fisher Bell’s Confederate sympathies put him directly at odds with many of his own neighbors.

Whether you’re a Civil War history enthusiast, a fan of espionage stories, or simply curious about how 19th-century coastal families lived, this is one of the most rewarding stops you can make in Carteret County.