Touring Richmond VA – A Heritage of Two Countries

Touring the capital of Virginia is a rare pleasure. Richmond, the fifth largest city in the state, is a true gem. It has ties to the Revolutionary War and was also a Confederate capital. The city retains an Old South atmosphere in a modern center of business and finance.

The perfect place to start your visit is the Church of San Juan. This National Historic Landmark was built in 1741. As the first church in Richmond, it is one of the oldest frame buildings in the state. Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech here in 1775. Notable Virginians are buried in the nearby Hollywood Cemetery.

Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family lived in the South White House (c. 1818). The columned mansion has been recently renovated; eleven rooms are open to the public. It is the first artifact of the Confederacy and a National Historic Landmark. It is also very similar to Mt. Vernon in its authenticity.

The adjacent Museum of the Confederacy features more Confederate artifacts, photos, and documents than anywhere else. Three floors display weapons, uniforms, 550 regimental flags and the personal belongings of soldiers and their families. One of the most prized items is Robert E. Lee’s sword.

The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest legislative body in the United States. The Capitol, located in Capital Square, is the second oldest state house in the US in continuous use. Thomas Jefferson designed the building, one of 13 state houses without a central dome. Aaron Burr was tried for treason at Old Hall. A 20-foot statue of Washington on horseback is prominently displayed on the grounds.

The Governor’s Mansion (c. 1811) is the oldest continuously inhabited executive residence in the United States. It is also a National Historic Monument. Four American presidents lived in the mansion. Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler were Governors of Virginia. William Henry Harrison lived there when his father was governor.

Old City Hall, an 1894 Victorian Gothic building, is nearby. Each corner tower is unique. Within its 3-foot granite walls rises a three-story painted cast-iron courtyard.

Iron was one of Richmond’s first industries. The city’s foundries prospered with the growth of the railroads and later made guns and ammunition for the Confederate army. The most famous foundry was the Tredegar Iron Works, built in 1833. Tredegar made the iron lining for the CSS Virginia, the former USS Merrimac.

Tredegar is now home to the American Civil War Center, opened in 2006. More than a museum, it is a journal of the Civil War told through the stories of those who fought: Northerners, Southerners, and slaves. The Center documents how the war affected the nation before, during and after the conflict. Outside is an old steam engine, used to transport ore to the smelter.

The Richmond National Battlefield Park Visitor Center is also located in Tredegar. Eighteen nearby National Historic Sites include forts, fields, a naval battle site, old earthworks, and a prison camp. There is also a visitor center at Chimborazo, the largest military hospital in the south.

Canal Walk is just over a mile walk from Tredegar to the historic Shockoe Slip. George Washington proposed the canals to circumvent the rapids of the James River. Bronze maps, signs, and markers explain the history as you walk. A footbridge not far from Tredegar crosses over to Belle Isle, a rocky island. During the Civil War, Belle Isle was a military prison. Equipped to handle 3,000, there were as many as 10,000 prisoners in 1863.

Shockoe Slip in Old Richmond is a combination of cafes, microbreweries, galleries, shops, and one of the oldest farmer’s markets in the country. Local fairs have been held here since the 1740s. Shop at the outdoor market Thursday through Sunday mornings.

A favorite among locals and tourists alike is The Tobacco Company, a first-class restaurant in a former tobacco warehouse. TTC is an elegant Victorian experience: three floors with a vintage elevator, white sheets and a 1920’s cigarette case. Don’t miss it!

Another must-see is Agecroft Hall. A true Tudor mansion, Agecroft was built in England in the 15th century. It was moved to Richmond, stone by stone, in the 1920s. The furnishings date from the late 1500s to the mid-1600s. (Think Queen Mary and James I.) Twenty-three acres of formal gardens and lawns surround the mansion.

Maymont is another stately country mansion. Built in 1893 during the Newport and Biltmore Estate era, it was the home of financier James Dooley and his wife. Like the famous Hershey’s, Dooley’s was childless. When James’s wife, Sallie, died in 1925, the property was bequeathed to the city. Most of the furniture is original. The gardens are exceptional! Maymont is unique in that it was altered by later residents. Also in Maymont is The Robbins Nature and Visitor Center. See the collection of vintage carriages. Native Virginia wildlife can be viewed at the Nature Center.

Tour other historic homes at the Valentine Richmond History Center. Wickham House was built in 1812. John Wickham was the defense attorney for Aaron Burr. The house is magnificent with a separate spiral staircase in the entrance hall. Also in the Center are the home of Chief Justice John Marshall (Marshall was the presiding judge in the Burr trial), the Museum of Black History, and the studio of Edward Valentine, a noted local sculptor.

There’s plenty more to try in and around Richmond, but we don’t have space to tell you more. Richmond is a small city with a lot of appeal for everyone. Enjoy true southern hospitality in this urban gem. come all…