Kelly's Logan House, Wilmington

Kelly’s Logan House is a cornerstone of Wilmington’s Trolley Square, housed in a historic building that dates back to 1864. Originally built as a resort hotel, it quickly became a lively stopover for rail travelers and earned a reputation as a neighborhood hub. Over the years, the building has hosted figures from Wild Bill Hickok and Al Capone to Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix. Today, it functions as both a traditional Irish pub and live entertainment venue, with a bar and dining area on the ground floor and performances hosted upstairs.

Purchased in 1889 by Irish immigrants John D. “Whiskers” Kelly and Hannah Kelleher Kelly, the tavern has stayed in the family for five generations, making it the oldest continuously family-owned Irish pub in America. Whiskers ran the business, raised his family there, and welcomed fellow Irish immigrants from the nearby train station. Now a National Historic Site, the tavern’s legacy remains deeply rooted in the local community.

Named after General John A. Logan-Union Army hero and founder of Memorial Day-the Logan House has become synonymous with Wilmington’s Saint Patrick’s Day festivities, holding a central role in the city’s Irish-American celebrations for over 160 years. Its interior retains a classic pub charm that, along with attentive service and a varied menu and wine list, keeps patrons returning year after year.

Following the passing of longtime owner John D. Kelly III in 2003 and his brother Michael P. Kelly Sr. in 2022, the pub remains under family stewardship. Now helmed by Joanna Kelly and Michael Patrick Kelly Jr., Kelly’s Logan House continues to blend heritage with hospitality, honoring its past while staying rooted in the present.