The Queen’s story began in 1789, when the building first opened as The Indian Queen Hotel, a popular destination for travelers and sailors arriving in Wilmington. Nearly a century later, in 1871, Artisan’s Bank and the First National Bank of Wilmington acquired the property and invested $200,000 to transform it into a first-class hotel. The renovation added two stories to the original structure, creating the five-story building that would become a defining part of Market Street.

In 1916, the hotel transformed into a 2,000 seat movie theater. For decades, the theater entertained generations of Wilmington residents before closing its doors in 1969, showing House on Haunted Hill as its final film.

For nearly five decades, the building sat dark, its history preserved within its walls but its doors closed to the community. In 2008, Buccini Pollin Group purchased the property, setting in motion plans to restore and transform the historic building into a modern performing arts venue. The Queen reopened its doors as a fully operational performing arts venue centered around live music on April 1, 2011.