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    Recommended Reviews - Bell Tower

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    Ellen Glasgow House

    Ellen Glasgow House

    (1 review)

    Downtown

    The Ellen Glasgow house is a little gem that I learned about in my Architectural History classes…read morewhile attending VCU. I had done several papers on historic buildings in what is known as Monroe Ward Historic District and also takes its place as a National Historic Landmark. First the house, then more about its famous owner. The house was built in 1841 and is a combination of both Greek Revival and Federal Architectural styles. It was a common type of home for this era in Richmond and a few others still survive on 5th Street between Main and Cary Streets. It is a 3 over 2 style home with a hip roof and 4 chimneys. Like other homes of this style it has a double "sleeping porch' off the back to catch the previously unobstructed river breezes, a small garden, and a carriage house that is now an apartment. As was also common, this house is brick covered with stucco and scored to look like cut stone. This house if unfortunately not open to the public but is still significant enough to be of interest to historians, literary types, and architecture fans. It was the home of Ellen Glasgow who, in 1938, was the sixth woman inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. More impressive, in 1942, she received the Pulitzer Prize for her final novel, In This Our Life. Pretty neat stuff for a house you probably have driven by a thousand times. Her family bought the house in 1887. Glasgow, who lived in the house until her death in 1945, was a well-known Southern novelist and one of few Richmond women to achieve prominence in literature.

    Maggie Lena Walker Memorial Plaza

    Maggie Lena Walker Memorial Plaza

    (4 reviews)

    Jackson Ward, Downtown

    Wonderful artistry in the statue and great location in the center of downtown. The timeline around…read morethe statue and the statue itself are both wonderful to see in person.

    "Let us be strong and make big plans!" -Maggie Walker…read more Maggie Walker has truthfully made a name for herself! Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1864 and raised by her mother Elizabeth Draper, a former slave, Maggie began to make a change as a teenager. Ms. Maggie Walker was an African American entrepreneur with a vision to make tangible improvements in the way of life for African Americans. She was a bright woman of many firsts, who dedicated her life to making positive social change within the community, especially for African American woman. Ms. Walker was the first woman bank president in the United States. She was also known as a writer, teacher, activist and speaker. If you are in the City of Richmond, I would strongly encourage you to check out Maggie Walkers' National Historic Site, located on E Leigh Street. I believe the National Park has done an exceptional job being able to tell the story of Maggie Walker and reliving her life. Maggie Walker is truly a woman that has accomplished a lot in her life, despite her disability as well as being an African American woman, and deserves to be remembered for her great achievements! Although this statue is located on the main street in Downtown Richmond, I still truly encourage to check out this memorial plaza.

    Emancipation & Freedom Monument

    Emancipation & Freedom Monument

    (3 reviews)

    Downtown

    I was visiting the city of Richmond during Black History Month and because of the historical and…read morecultural significance of Richmond during the slave trade - I wanted to make sure I saw and did as much as I could to explore this part of its history. The Emancipation and Freedom Monument is a beautiful bronze statue that was commissioned in 2021. The very nature of the topic that the statue represents, made it extremely powerful to see in person. I would highly recommend visiting the monument, as it is very moving, inspiring and has information on some of the KEY Virginians that fought against slavery and equality.

    All I can say is wow! I wish I could give this sculpture 5 more stars. It is as amazing as it is…read morepowerful. It is the center piece of Brown's Island. The piece, which is the work of Thomas Jay Warren of Oregon, was dedicated in 2021. It depicts two 12-foot statues. The first statue is of a shirtless male slave that has freed himself from the shackles around his wrist. The statue is very detailed and almost looks real. You can even see the whip marks on his back and his abs. The other stature that makes up this monument is of a woman that is cuddling a baby in her left hand and holding up what I assume are her freedom papers. The paper has the date January 1, 1863, which happens to be the date that Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. On the back of the base you will find the word "FREEDOM". On the other sides of the base you will find the names, images, and brief biographical information of ten African American Virginians whose lives were dedicated to Emancipation and freedom. one side displays five individuals from the period before Emancipation through 1865 (Mary Bowser, William Harvey Carney, Gabriel, Dred Scott, and Nat Turner). The opposite side has five people that continued to work for freedom from 1865 to 1970 (Rosa Dixon Bowser, John Mercer Langston, John Mitchell Jr., Lucy F. Simms, Wyatt Tee Walker). This is one of the best sculptures that I have ever seen and is so impactful. The detail on the sculptures is amazing. The choice of having this monument in Virginia is fitting, given that the state was key in the slave trade. If you could only see one sculpture not only in Virginia, but in the United States, it should be this was. Warren "dropped the mic" on this one. It would be tough for any sculpture to live up to the standard set by this one.

    Old Negro Burial Ground

    Old Negro Burial Ground

    (2 reviews)

    Upper Shockoe Valley, Church Hill

    This is a local attraction that can easily be missed. It is located right off of a highway entrance…read moreramp and on the Historic Slave Trail. The grounds are well maintained and kept. It is opposite of the side that the Lumpkin Slave Jail is located. You can take an underpass to walk freely between the two sites. This was the first designated burial spot for the city's enslaved and free residents of African ancestry, dating back to as late as 1799. This one and a half acres was considered poor quality and had no other use but the cemetery. It was also the site of public hangings. Other names the site has been known as Potter's Field, were Burying-ground for Coloured persons, Grave Yard for Free People of Color" and Grave Yard for For Slaves You will find a memorial obelisk here with a plaque dedicating the cemetery. Their is also a spot with a couple of information placards that look likes a spot that people hold rituals and leave sacrifices/personal effects. The vast majority of the grounds is low cut green space. Additionally, there is a vacant and decrepit building there. I do not know what it was prior, but it looks historical. This is a nice place to visit. I would not consider it a long stop, so I would probably couple it with a visit to the old Lumpkin Slave Jail and other nearby attractions to maximize your time.

    Be on the look out because this landmark is easy to miss.This plaque is located on a bridge that…read moregoes over a park. Attached to the plaque is a rope going over the bridge and at the end of the rope is a noose. The area below was closed due to construction at the time of my visit. I apologize for no further information.

    Bell Tower - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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