Richmond, Virginia’s capital, stretches along the James River and blends a historic downtown with attractions extending beyond the city center. Discover the Virginia State Capitol and the riverfront, explore gardens and museums, then visit plantations, battlefields and historic towns beyond the city.
Our 3-day Richmond itinerary is organized by geography to make the most of your time, with options to tailor each day to your interests.
Table of Contents
Our 3-Day Richmond Itinerary
We’ve split our Richmond itinerary into three days by geography. Day 1 explores the downtown and riverfront, with the Capitol, the canal and Church Hill all within a short walk of each other. Day 2 heads west and north to the estates, gardens and museums. Day 3 leaves the city behind with options to explore a colonial plantation, Civil War battlefields, Patrick Henry’s early years, and a small railroad town.
Day 1 – Richmond’s Historic Core & Riverfront:
- Stroll through Capitol Square, past monuments honoring patriots, women, and civil rights heroes.
- Tour the Jefferson-designed Virginia State Capitol on a free guided tour.
- Walk along the Riverfront Canal and find its bronze medallions with tidbits of Richmond history.
- Hop aboard the Canal Cruise for a 40-minute narrated history tour.
- Explore the historic Richmond Main Street Station, a Beaux-Arts landmark and modern event venue.
- Visit Historic St. John’s Church, site of Patrick Henry’s impassioned lines “Give me Liberty or Give me Death”.
Day 2 – Beyond Downtown – Rapids, Gardens and Museums:
- Start the day by:
Exploring Maymont Park, a 100-acre estate with a mansion, gardens, the Robins Nature Center and more, or
Conquer the James River’s Class III-IV rapids on a Whitewater Rafting Tour. - Wander the eclectic “Mile of Style” at Carytown, boasting unique boutiques and eateries.
- In the afternoon:
Museum enthusiasts – Enjoy a couple Richmond Museums, maybe exploring “The Story of Virginia” at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture or meeting the resident cats in the Enchanted Garden at the Poe Museum.
Garden enthusiasts – Head to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to explore its 15 themed gardens.
Day 3 – Day Trips From Richmond:
Each of these is within an hour of downtown Richmond.
- Explore Berkeley Plantation, the site of America’s first official Thanksgiving and birthplace of a U.S. president.
- Tour the Petersburg National Battlefield, where a 292-day Union siege changed the Civil War.
- Trace Patrick Henry’s history through Hanover County, from childhood church to historic courthouse.
- Stroll historic Ashland’s walkable center with local cafes and boutique shops.
To create a full eventful day, combine 1) visits to Hanover County and Ashland, or 2) Whitewater Rafting with a visit to Berkeley Plantation or Petersburg National Battlefield.
There are many options for spending an entertaining evening in Richmond beyond enjoying its excellent restaurants. Experience one of Richmond’s Historic Theatres or an event at Richmond Raceway, “America’s Premier Short Track”.
Richmond Virginia Attractions Map
Plan your daily routes efficiently with our map highlighting attractions across the city and beyond.
Capitol Square
The civic heart of downtown Richmond, Capitol Square is 12 landscaped acres of lawns, paths and monuments surrounded by a cast-iron fence dating to 1818. The grounds have served as a gathering place in peace, war and celebration since 1788, making this one of the country’s oldest planned parks.
We entered the square from North 9th and East Grace streets, the west side of the square. The George Washington Equestrian Monument is straight ahead. Unveiled in 1858, the 21-foot bronze equestrian statue of George Washington sits on a three-tiered base. Six statues of Virginia patriots, among them Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, ring the tiers below. The base was designed and built with an interior chamber intended to serve as a tomb for George Washington. The tomb is empty. Washington’s family honored the terms of his will, placing his remains in his family tomb at Mount Vernon. The monument was not fully completed until 1869.
Just down the hill, tucked in the trees, is the Virginia Women’s Monument composed of eleven life-sized bronze statues on an open granite plaza. Titled “Voices from the Garden,” honorees include Pamunkey chieftain Cockacoeske and educator Virginia Randolph. A curved glass Wall of Honor is inscribed with the names of more than 200 other Virginia women.
Visible to the southwest is the red-brick Bell Tower, completed in 1825 to house the public guard, now called the Capitol Police. This Federal-style landmark is topped by a domed belvedere. Its bell still tolls to open General Assembly sessions.
To the northeast from the Washington Monument, Old City Hall fills an entire city block in gray granite quarried along the James River. Completed in 1894, its High Victorian Gothic exterior carries four corner towers and a clock tower rising 195 feet. The first floor is free to visit.
If you are looking for a bird’s eye view of downtown and the Capitol Square area, head to the Observation Deck on the 18th floor of Richmond City Hall. City Hall is just across East Broad Street between North 9th and 10th Streets. Access is free, and the deck is open 10am to 3pm. Unfortunately, we toured the area too late to visit.
From Old City Hall, walk east to the far side of Capitol Square. Completed in 1813, the Virginia Executive Mansion is the oldest governor’s residence in the United States still used for its original purpose. It was designed in the Federal style.
The star attraction in the center of Capitol Square is the state capitol.
Virginia State Capitol
The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s government. Thomas Jefferson designed the capitol while serving as U.S. Minister to France, modeling it on the Maison Carrée, a Roman temple in Nîmes, France. It is made of brick and covered with stucco.
Construction of the rectangular capitol building began in 1785 and ended in 1798. The Virginia General Assembly occupied the building from 1788. From 1861 to 1865 it was the capitol of the Confederate States of America. The East and West Wings, built to house the new chambers for the House of Delegates and Senate, were completed in 1906.
Inside, the two-story Rotunda holds a life-sized, 6-foot-2-inch marble statue of George Washington at the age of 53. Sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon traveled to Mount Vernon to create a life mask of Washington’s face, coating it in oil and plaster.
In the Old Hall of the House of Delegates, with its carved woodwork, Robert E. Lee accepted command of Virginia’s forces and Aaron Burr was tried and acquitted of treason. The Old Senate Chamber displays two large paintings depicting pivotal moments in U.S. history, namely the arrival of the first permanent English settlers at Jamestown and the storming of a British redoubt at Yorktown.
The historic House and Senate chambers are no longer used for legislative sessions; today’s sessions are held in the 1906 wings, where visitors can view proceedings from public galleries when the assembly is in session.
Self-guided and guided tours are available daily. The capitol is open almost every day of the year. For more information, the Virginia government’s website has full details. To visit, enter at the entrance plaza on the north side of Bank Street opposite 10th Street.
The riverfront is about a 10 minute walk south of the entrance plaza.
Richmond’s Riverfront Canal
First proposed by George Washington in 1785, the canal system was engineered to link Richmond to western trade routes. Commercial traffic began on the lower sections in 1790, with the full length not completed until 1851. For decades, bateaux and packet boats navigated the waterway carrying tobacco, wheat, and passengers. Damage from the Civil War, severe flooding, and the rapid rise of rail transport rendered the canal obsolete, leading to its official closure in 1880.
The Riverfront Canal Walk is a paved 1.25-mile trail, following the historic waterway and the James River from Tredegar Street near Belle Isle to 17th Street in Shockoe Bottom. A pedestrian bridge crosses from the walk to Belle Isle, an island in the James River. More than 20 bronze medallions are embedded in the pathway, marking historic locations and events.
The walk offers a look into Richmond’s industrial past, including old mill sites, vibrant murals, and views of the iconic Triple Railroad Bridge Crossing. The crossing is the only spot in North America where three main line train tracks cross at three distinct heights. I-95 now soars above the whole stack. Photographers still wait here for the three-train shot that has never officially been recorded. We walked a short section before our canal cruise which departed from the Turning Basin, located at the intersection of 14th and Dock Streets on Virginia Street.
Riverfront Canal Cruise
The Riverfront Canal Cruise is a 40-minute narrated boat tour along the James River and Kanawha Canal. The covered tour boats, styled after traditional flat-bottomed canal bateaux, carry up to 25 passengers. Val and I took the last cruise of the day and had the entire boat to ourselves!
Along the route, the captain pointed out the railroad Triple Crossing and the stone piers of bridges burned by Confederate forces during the 1865 evacuation of Richmond. Our guide also shared local history, covering Powhatan’s Chiefdom, former tobacco warehouses, and how Richmond became home to the world’s first successful electric streetcar system. We learned how 63 historic canal boats were uncovered 20 feet beneath Cary Street during a 1985 construction project.
The cruises are offered daily from April to early November. Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis at the Turning Basin’s ticket kiosk and on Venture Richmond’s ticket webpage up to 18 hours in advance.
From the waterfront, Richmond Main Street Station is less than a 10 minute walk north.
Richmond’s Main Street Station
The restored 1901 Main Street Station with bright red brickwork, steep tiled roof, and iconic clock tower, is more than a train platform. It’s become a multi-use cultural hub in the heart of Shockoe Bottom, as well as being an active Amtrak station with trains running directly to Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, and Newport News several times a day.
The lower level includes a Virginia Welcome Center where you can get maps, travel guides, and helpful tips from local experts. The Gallery at Main Street Station features rotating exhibits featuring regional artists. One of the biggest additions to the station is the Shockoe Institute’s “Expanding Freedom” exhibit. It contains thought-provoking displays tackling the deep, complex history of racial slavery in America and its impact on the economy and social life. The Shockoe Institute website has full information about visiting.
If there are no private events taking place, be sure to go up to the second floor for a great view over the city from the Train Shed. This 100,000-square-foot, glass-walled event space can accommodate over 3,000 people. It is one of the last surviving structures of its kind in North America.
When you leave don’t forget to grab a photograph of the iconic clock tower. Head east along Shockoe Bottom’s cobblestone streets, filled with local eateries and historic locations, into the Church Hill neighbourhood to the oldest church in Richmond.
Historic St. John’s Church
Historic St. John’s Church was established on this site in 1741. William Byrd II, the city’s founder, donated the land and the timber for its construction, ensuring that a prominent parish church anchored his new settlement and encouraged growth in the area. In 1772, an addition was made to the north of the original building, incorporating the original as its transept. Further additions were made in the 19th century.
In March 1775 the Second Virginia Convention met here, as it was the largest building in Richmond at the time. Patrick Henry rose to defend his resolution putting the colony into a state of defense and delivered the “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech. His resolutions passed by a narrow margin.
Around 30 colonial-era pews and the pulpit survive from that time, and visitors sit in the same benches the delegates used. We had the opportunity to watch professional interpreters perform a reenactment of Henry’s speech.
The surrounding churchyard was Richmond’s first public cemetery and holds an estimated 1,300 burials, including George Wythe, America’s first law professor, and Eliza Poe, mother of Edgar Allan Poe.
Once you’ve explored the historic core of downtown and Church Hill, switch gears for one of Richmond’s most unique outdoor experiences. The James River runs directly through downtown, making it easy to swap historic walking tours for a thrilling afternoon on the water.
Whitewater Rafting in Richmond
Richmond is the only place in the United States where you can run Class III and IV whitewater straight through the heart of the city. The seven-mile stretch is called the Falls of the James, dropping 105 feet from Bosher’s Dam at the western city limit to Mayo Bridge at 14th Avenue.
The rafting season runs roughly April through October, with the biggest water in May and June.
I went out with Riverside Outfitters on their Falls of the James trip, three to four hours over Class II-IV water through Richmond’s urban forest and along the downtown skyline. The trip includes rope swings, cliff jumping and a boxed lunch eaten on one of the river islands. Take-out is at the foot of 14th Street.
Maymont Park
Maymont is a 100-acre estate on the north bank of the James River, directly overlooking the stretch of rapids known as the fall line. The mansion sits high on the bluffs with excellent views of the James River. It was the home of James and Sallie Dooley from 1893 to 1925. The estate was left to the city and opened as a public park in March 1926. General admission to the grounds and gardens is free.
The estate has a number of areas to explore depending on your interests. Tour the Maymont Mansion, and its beautiful gardens, discover the Robins Nature Center, interactive farm and rescued animal habitats or just enjoy walking the paths through the grounds. For full details, including any fees, visit Maymont’s Tours and Encounters webpage. Tickets can be purchased on site at the Stone Barn Welcome Centre at the 1700 Hampton St entrance. Val enjoyed a guided tour of the mansion and the Italian and Japanese Gardens.
The 13,000-square-foot, 33-room Romanesque Revival Maymont Mansion was completed in 1893. A Tiffany stained-glass window illuminates the main stairwell. A highlight is Mrs. Dooley’s swan bed which was brought from the couple’s summer home, Swannanoa, to ensure its preservation. The restored below-stairs rooms house an exhibition on domestic staff and their lives during the Jim Crow era.
Completed in 1910 in Petersburg granite and local stone, the Italian Garden’s design was heavily influenced by 15th- and 16th-century Italian gardens. The garden steps down the hillside in a series of terraces, with symmetrical flower beds, fountains and a vine-covered pergola overlooking the James River.
Laid out in 1912 by Japanese garden master Muto and reworked in 1978, the Japanese Garden is one of the oldest Japanese gardens on the East Coast. The 45-foot manmade cascading waterfall, pond and winding paths with arched bridges sit among carefully pruned trees. Its design draws inspiration from classical gardens in Kyoto, Tokyo and Nara.
After visiting the quiet Maymont park, head just a few blocks north into Carytown. This is Richmond’s colorful nine-block “Mile of Style.” As Maymont has limited food options, Carytown makes for a perfect lunch stop with many local eateries, local boutiques, and vintage shops.
Carytown
Carytown’s retail strip, running west roughly from South Arthur Ashe Boulevard to I95 along West Cary Street includes more than 230 shops, restaurants and offices. Its shops include indie boutiques, bookstores, vintage clothing and specialty food. It opened in 1938 as the Cary Street Park and Shop Center, Richmond’s first strip shopping center. We spent some time along the street, checking out the unique stores and enjoyed dinner at the Mellow Mushroom.
As you stroll into the heart of Carytown, you’ll spot the historic Byrd Theatre, which has operated here since 1928. Inside, an 18-foot chandelier sparkles with over 5,000 crystals, while its original 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer organ entertains moviegoers before weekend screenings.
Every August the Carytown Watermelon Festival spans the full 9-block stretch of Carytown, one of Virginia’s largest one-day festivals. Started over 40 years ago as a way to stay cool in the summer, it features 100+ street vendors, live musicians across multiple stages, and one of the largest kids’ activity zones on the East Coast.
Richmond Museums
Richmond’s museums cover art, history, and science. Between world-class collections and hard-hitting historical sites, this is a city where a rainy day is easily filled.
| Name | Known for |
|---|---|
| West End/Museum District | |
| Virginia Museum of History & Culture | Nine million artifacts tracing 16,000 years of Virginia history |
| Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) | 50,000 works including five Imperial Fabergé eggs |
| Science Museum of Virginia | Hands-on labs and The Dome inside a 1917 train station |
| City Center/Jackson Ward | |
| Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia | Housed in the 1895 Leigh Street Armory in Jackson Ward |
| Historic City Center/Downtown | |
| White House of the Confederacy | Confederate Executive Mansion and Jefferson Davis’s wartime residence, restored with original furnishings |
| The Valentine | 400 years of Richmond history and the toppled Jefferson Davis statue |
| Downtown Riverfront | |
| American Civil War Museum – Historic Tredegar | Union, Confederate, and African American perspectives on the war |
| Tredegar Iron Works | Confederate cannon foundry ruins beside the James River |
| East End/Shockoe Bottom | |
| The Poe Museum | World’s largest Poe collection, Enchanted Garden, resident cats |
| Shockoe Institute | Immersive exhibits on slavery inside Main Street Station |
Virginia Museum of History & Culture
In Richmond’s Museum District, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture is the oldest cultural organization in the state, founded in 1831. The building’s central section, in the Neoclassical Revival style, was completed in 1913. With more than nine million artifacts, the museum collection is one of the largest history holdings in the country.
Begin with the 15-minute Imagine Virginia orientation film. The Story of Virginia explores the 16,000-year timeline of Virginia history. In Our Commonwealth discover the landscapes, industries, culture and people of Virginia.
See George Washington’s embroidered silk waistcoat, Patrick Henry’s whalebone paper cutter, a well-preserved chestnut dugout canoe, and so much more. Check the Virginia Museum of History website for hours, admission, exhibits and special events including admission free days and live music nights.
The Poe Museum
The Poe Museum holds the world’s largest public collection of Edgar Allan Poe artifacts, works, and belongings. The museum, opened in 1922 to honor Poe in his hometown, now includes three exhibit buildings, each displaying objects from different periods of his life.
The museum is anchored by the Old Stone House (circa 1740), Richmond’s oldest surviving residential structure. Because most of Poe’s actual homes and workplaces were demolished over time, the museum was built here, in the very neighborhood where he grew up, wrote, and fell in love.
The collection is huge and includes his childhood bed, his pocket watch, and the engagement ring he gave his last fiancée. There’s a fragment of his coffin, strands of hair cut after his death, and the work chair with its back sawn off, reportedly because his boss wanted him to sit up straight.
The Enchanted Garden takes its cue from his poem “To One in Paradise.” The garden used building materials salvaged from Poe’s homes and places of work. Most of the plants are mentioned in his poems and tales. The ivy came from his mother’s grave. I enjoyed seeing the two cats, Edgar and Tib, who make their home on the grounds.
The Poe Museum website has hours and admission details.
Richmond’s Historic Theatres
Richmond has a number of early 20th-century grand performance spaces. Most of them are still hosting performances rather than being turned into museums. Movie theatres from the 1920s sit alongside vaudeville houses and a jazz stage. All have stunning exteriors but if you want to see inside, check their websites for show schedules before you visit.
| Name | Known for |
|---|---|
| Hippodrome Theater | 1914 movie and vaudeville house became a legendary jazz landmark in Jackson Ward that hosted Billie Holiday and James Brown, now continues as a live music venue including immersive live jazz concerts |
| The National | 1923 theater in the downtown city center, now a 1,500-capacity live music venue |
| Dominion Energy Center (Carpenter Theatre) | 1928 grand movie theater and auditorium in downtown city center, updated and expanded in 2009, now 3 venues for theatre productions, concerts, ballet, opera, and symphony performances of all sizes |
| Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre | 1911 theatre built as a vaudeville and stock theatre house is the home of Virginia Repertory Theatre. |
| Byrd Theater | 1928 movie palace in Carytown with a Mighty Wurlitzer organ and giant chandelier, showing Repertory & Classic Cinema |
Beyond Richmond
Richmond experiences don’t stop at the city limits. These 2 sites are just to the north.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Spanning roughly 82 acres and four scenic lakes just north of Richmond, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden opened to the public in 1984. The grounds trace back to philanthropist Grace Arents, who bequeathed her Bloemendaal Farm property along with an endowment to establish a public sanctuary, naming it in honor of her uncle, prominent 19th-century Richmond businessman Lewis Ginter.
Fifteen distinct themed gardens fill the grounds. The Cochrane Rose Garden is the most fragrant of them, while the Asian Valley is the quietest, laid out as a meditative walk. The Children’s Garden holds the Klaus Family Tree House, a universally accessible platform 13 feet off the ground, and a waterway-style splash pad that runs during the warm months.
The centerpiece is the classical Conservatory, crowned by a glass dome 62 feet high. Inside are exotic plants grouped by climate zone plus a permanent, year-round butterfly exhibit.
The garden also collects and recycles its rainwater for irrigation. Be sure to watch for their Bright Spots publication which is updated at least weekly with the current garden highlights so that you won’t miss the best of the garden during your visit. For information on hours, admission and exhibits, visit the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s website.
Richmond Raceway
Richmond Raceway is a 0.75-mile D-shaped oval known as “America’s Premier Short Track.” It opened in 1946 as a dirt track at the fairgrounds. Richmond pioneered night racing with temporary lights in 1964. Now every major NASCAR race here is run after dark. The current “D” shape, complete with 14-degree banking in the turns and 8 degrees on the frontstretch, debuted in 1988.
The raceway’s first NASCAR Cup Series race took place in 1953 and was won by Lee Petty. His son, Richard Petty, went on to establish the track’s all-time record with 13 victories over 63 starts at Richmond.
We enjoyed a special evening event, complete with cars circling the track, giving a hint at the noise and excitement of race night. The facility has a number of events throughout the year.
Check the Richmond Raceway website for the full event schedule including Nascar weekend.
Day Trips From Richmond
Richmond sits within easy reach of a presidential birthplace, Civil War battlefields, the trail of Patrick Henry’s early years, and small towns. These stops are only a short drive away from Richmond and will fill a half to a full day outside the city.
Berkeley Plantation
Less than an hour southeast of Richmond along the James River, Berkeley Plantation is best known as the site of America’s first official Thanksgiving in 1619, nearly two years before the Pilgrims reached Plymouth. Centered around a grand 1726 Georgian mansion, this historically rich estate is also the birthplace of a U.S. president, and was a key military encampment during the Civil War.
The 18th-century mansion was built from bricks handmade and fired on the plantation grounds. It is one of Virginia’s oldest three-story brick houses, with exterior walls three feet thick under a slate roof. The Great Room displays interior woodwork designed under the influence of Thomas Jefferson, and rooms are furnished with 18th-century antiques, Chinese porcelain and English silver. A Confederate cannonball is still lodged in the side of the mansion.
After the guided tour of the first floor of the house, visit the basement museum and wander the ten acres of terraced gardens running down to the river and the Thanksgiving Monument. See the monument to the Civil War bugle call “Taps” which was composed here. Stop at the reconstructed Slave Quarters on your walk back to the Coach House where there are exhibits and a film. For hours and admission information, visit the Berkeley Plantation website.
Petersburg National Battlefield
Petersburg National Battlefield preserves the ground of the 292-day Civil War Siege of Petersburg, fought from June 1864 to April 1865. Several railroads converged in Petersburg, making it a key supply depot linking supplies from the South with the Confederate army units defending Petersburg and Richmond. Rather than attack Richmond directly, Union General Ulysses S. Grant sought to cut these rail connections and isolate the Confederate forces.
What began as an attempt to seize Petersburg became a series of battles with trenches and fortified lines stretching for miles around the city. Over the course of nine months, Union forces gradually extended their lines and tightened the pressure on the Confederate defenses. Today, Petersburg National Battlefield preserves this history with four separate areas, each connected to a different part of the campaign. The Eastern Front Visitor Center is a good place to begin, with exhibits and a film that provide an overview of the siege before you explore the battlefield.
The Eastern Front preserves the ground where Union forces first attacked Petersburg and where some of the siege’s best-known battles took place. The area includes the Crater, Fort Stedman and miles of preserved earthworks and trenches. A four-mile driving loop connects the major sites.
The Western Front follows the Union advance as the siege expanded westward and Confederate forces continued to extend defensive lines. The area includes preserved forts, trenches and artillery positions from the later stages of the campaign, when Union troops continued to cut remaining supply routes. Poplar Grove National Cemetery and three forts can be visited.
Located about 15 miles west of Petersburg, Five Forks was the site of the decisive April 1, 1865 battle that severed the South Side Railroad, the last remaining railroad supplying Petersburg and Richmond. This Confederate defeat left Lee’s army unable to hold Petersburg, leading to the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond a few days later. Five sites are open to visitors here.
Grant’s Headquarters at City Point, now part of Hopewell, overlooked the confluence of the Appomattox and James Rivers. This strategic location became the Union army’s principal supply and communications center, receiving crucial troops and supplies. The preserved headquarters and surrounding grounds reveal a different aspect of the siege from the battlefield itself.
We began at the Eastern Front Visitor Center. Its exhibits were very helpful as we were relatively unfamiliar with the fighting that took place here. The exhibits are presented in a circular walk through time with artifacts illustrating the intensity of the fighting and the difficult conditions faced by soldiers in the trenches. Outside, artillery pieces and shells give a first glimpse of the battlefield before the driving tour.
Confederate Battery Five, behind the visitor center, was one of the strongest works on the Dimmock Line, a ten-mile ring of 55 artillery positions around Petersburg.
The Eastern Front Driving Tour continues south on one-way Siege Road across a bridge. The next two stops, Confederate Batteries 8 and 9, were captured by United States Colored Troops on June 15, 1864. At Battery 9, we walked around reconstructed fortifications and typical soldier camp buildings. A stone monument on the site honors the United States Colored Troops who fought in the Petersburg Campaign.
The drive continues to Fort Stedman, a Union earthen fort thrown up during the siege and the target of the last major Confederate assault of the war on March 25, 1865. A monument here honors the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, which suffered the greatest single-action loss of any regiment in the Civil War.
The next stop, Fort Haskell, was established in 1864 as part of the Union siege line. Its defenders stopped a Confederate charge coming from a ravine and helped halt Lee’s final offensive. The fort itself came under fire from both Confederate guns and, by mistake, friendly Union artillery. The earthen walls remain, but the interpretive signs helped us imagine the fort as it was and understand the fight.
Formed on July 30, 1864, when Union forces detonated 8,000 pounds of gunpowder beneath Elliott’s Salient, The Crater remains a striking depression roughly 170 feet long, 120 feet wide and 30 feet deep. We followed the path to the reconstructed entrance of the tunnel dug by the 48th Pennsylvania to plant the explosives, then continued past the enormous hole created by the blast. Markers along the way explain how the attack failed when Union troops crowded into the crater rather than advancing around it.
Nearby, shallow depressions mark the Confederate Countermine, where Confederate crews dug listening galleries to detect Union tunneling. The two sites provide a glimpse into the elaborate underground warfare that developed during the siege.
The visitor centre is thirty minutes south of Richmond. There is no admission fee to the battlefield or any buildings. For more information visit the Petersburg National Battlefield website.
Patrick Henry’s Hanover County
Hanover County, just north of Richmond, is where Patrick Henry lived, studied law, tended bar and argued his first famous case. Val followed his story through several historic sites, from a church memorial and early homes to the courthouse where he argued the Parson’s Cause. Together, these sites offer an engaging look at Henry’s early life and career and make an excellent historical day trip from Richmond.
The open-air church frame at the Historic Polegreen Church site traces the exact architectural footprint of the 18th-century church that stood here until 1864, when it was destroyed by Confederate artillery. Reverend Samuel Davies, Polegreen’s first pastor, preached to Presbyterian dissenters here from 1748 to 1759. Davies was the first non-Anglican minister licensed to preach in Virginia and a leading advocate for religious freedom. Henry attended services with his mother and credited Davies with teaching him what an orator should be. The grounds are free to wander and open daily from dawn until dusk.
Pine Slash plantation, roughly a mile north of the church, was Patrick Henry and Sarah Shelton’s first home after their marriage in 1754. An acreage and manor house were given to Sarah Shelton by her father, as part of her marriage settlement. A devastating fire destroyed their manor home so they moved into a small cottage on the property known today as the Honeymoon Cottage.
While modest in size, the 1.5-story cottage is an excellent example of early Virginia construction. Built around 1750 using local heart pine, it employs vertical plank construction, with thick, sawn planks forming both the load-bearing exterior walls and the interior paneling. The compact floor plan included two ground-floor rooms, a hall and chamber, two small attic bedrooms reached by a tight corner staircase, a half-cellar, and a single chimney. With the family finding the cottage too small and their farm struggling, the Henrys moved to Hanover Tavern.
The Historic Polegreen Church Foundation website has more information about visiting Polegreen Church and Pine Slash.
Hanover Tavern is about fifteen minutes north of Pine Slash. A tavern was licensed to operate on this site as early as 1733. The early building was replaced by the current one beginning in 1791, making Hanover Tavern one of America’s oldest taverns. Henry lived here with his family while assisting his father-in-law, John Shelton, by greeting and serving guests and tending bar. Today, the Tavern features a full-service restaurant and pub, making it an ideal lunch stop. The property also includes the Bradley Theater. For full details on visiting the site including restaurant menus and the theater schedule, see the Hanover Tavern website.
Across the street is the historic Hanover Courthouse with its distinctive arcaded front. Built between 1737 and 1742, the courthouse at the heart of the Hanover County Courthouse Historic District is one of the oldest courthouses in continuous use in the United States. The district also includes an 1835 stone jail and a brick clerk’s office. Entry is free.
By 1760, Patrick Henry had taken up law, earning a license to practice after studying on his own. Step into the historic courtroom where the young Henry argued the Parson’s Cause in 1763. The case involved Anglican clergy seeking compensation after the Virginia legislature temporarily changed the way they were paid during a period of high tobacco prices. Henry’s fiery defense challenged the king’s authority to veto colonial laws, declaring that a king who vetoes local laws “degenerates into a Tyrant.”
The route ends at Scotchtown, about 30 minutes to the northeast. This was Patrick Henry’s primary residence from 1771 to 1778 and the only one of Henry’s homes still standing in its original condition. From Scotchtown, Henry rode to St. John’s Church in Richmond in March 1775, where he delivered the speech remembered for its famous “Give me liberty, or give me death!” declaration. Henry was elected Virginia’s first non-royal governor while living at Scotchtown.
The 18th-century plantation house reflects Henry’s growing prominence during the Revolutionary era. The house is unusual for its eight large rooms arranged along a central passage. Tours of the house are offered, with Henry’s ink-stained mahogany desk and law books among the highlights. For full information, see Preservation Virginia’s Scotchtown webpage.
Depending on how quickly you visit the Patrick Henry sites, you may wish to stop in Ashland on your way back to Richmond.
Ashland
Ashland sits 15 miles north of Richmond, was incorporated in 1858 and takes its name from Henry Clay’s Kentucky estate. Active railroad tracks run straight through downtown, with many trains passing daily. We spent an hour wandering through the centre of town. It has a great collection of specialty shops and local dining options.
The Ashland Train Station (and Visitor Center) is both an active Amtrak stop and the town’s information hub. The Colonial Revival building, opened in 1923, has a divided floor plan, from the segregation era, with separate ticket windows and waiting areas. A small exhibit holds Richmond Freelance & Prototype Model Railroaders blueprints and model trains. They are one of the oldest model railroading groups on the east coast. A guide to Ashland’s one-mile self-guided walking tour is available from the visitor center or the Ashland Museum.
Behind the station is the Georgian-style Henry Clay Inn, named for the presidential candidate born in Hanover County. The current building, with its large front porch facing the tracks, was rebuilt in 1992 on the site of earlier hotels.
Watch for murals throughout town depicting the town’s history. The Center of the Universe Mural, just south of the Inn, is the town’s most photographed wall and a nod to Ashland’s nickname.
To find the Ashland Museum, look for the fully restored 1926 C&O red caboose. Discover the story of Ashland’s railroad history through exhibits of memorabilia, photographs and local stories. For information on museum hours, exhibits and online collections visit the Ashland Museum website.
The Secretariat Racing Into History monument shows the Triple Crown champion at full run with famous jockey Ron Turcotte aboard. The huge bronze statue is one and a half times the horse’s natural size. Secretariat was born at Meadow Farm just north of Ashland. It sits in the plaza where England Street crosses the tracks.
Look east down England Street and you can’t miss the Art Deco facade of the 1940’s Ashland Theater with the vibrant neon “ASHLAND” sign. It shows classic movies, live entertainment and events for all ages.
Richmond Restaurants
Richmond’s vibrant dining scene blends refined Southern cuisine with classic American comfort food and diverse international flavors. Expect top-tier establishments delivering memorable experiences in unique settings.
| Restaurant | Known For |
|---|---|
| The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing | Award-winning seafood, prime steaks, and gourmet flatbreads with panoramic river views |
| Casa Del Barco – Canal Walk | Redefined Mexican cuisine with an extensive tequila bar and scenic canal views |
| Mama J’s Kitchen | Comforting Southern soul food, acclaimed for fried catfish and a warm, homey atmosphere |
| LUNCH.SUPPER! | Innovative American and Southern comfort food, house-smoked dishes, and popular brunch |
| Can Can Brasserie | Classic Parisian brasserie serving French cuisine, famous for onion soup and pastries |
| Fall Line Kitchen & Bar | Upscale-casual Southern comfort food with regional ingredients, land and sea dishes, craft cocktails |
| Mellow Mushroom Richmond – Carytown | Funky, art-filled pizzeria featuring stone-baked pizzas, craft beer, and a lively atmosphere |
| Bookbinder’s Seafood & Steakhouse | Renowned for premium steaks, pristine seafood, and historic elegance |
| L’Opossum | Eclectic, playful French-Southern cuisine with artful presentations and punny names |
| The Roosevelt | Modern Southern cuisine celebrating regional ingredients with elevated comfort food |
Accommodations in Richmond, Virginia
Here are the best-rated accommodations for your stay in Richmond, Virginia.
- Richmond Marriott — Downtown high-rise with an on-site restaurant, lobby bar, and skywalk to the convention center. We stayed here!
- Courtyard by Marriott Richmond Downtown — Downtown pick with a fitness center, 24-hour front desk, and microwaves in every room.
- Tru By Hilton Richmond Northwest — Northwest of downtown with a year-round outdoor pool, fitness room, and in-room refrigerators.
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