This building is breathtaking, outside as well as inside! While in Richmond, I couldn't miss the…read moreopportunity to visit. The architecture is so ornate and gives you the feeling of stepping back in time. Unfortunately, I didn't see anything on site to learn about the building's history, and you are limited to only the first floor. However, it's worth the visit just to take in the beauty and detail of this space.

Old City Hall in Richmond is a stunning architectural gem. The intricate Gothic design and towering…read morearches are truly breathtaking!

Great food and good service. Bartender is really pleasant…read more A great place for lunch. A little loud when they are really busy.

This is a small museum with well-organized exhibits that are easy to follow. With all the nearby…read moreconstruction, parking was a bit tricky--I ended up having to go a couple of streets up the hill. The exhibits themselves covered some very heavy and thought-provoking topics that really dove into the human psyche of war. I was especially impressed by how well they've been able to save and preserve artifacts over time. One highlight was a presentation on muskets from the era, complete with a live firing demonstration, which was both fascinating and educational.

I read the novel, The Yellow Wife, and if you are a fan of historical fiction, I highly recommend…read moreit. The book is based on the story of Mary Lumpkin, an enslaved woman in Richmond, VA who went on to inherit the Lumpkin Jail and used the property to establish Virginia Union University. I was so moved by her story that I felt the need to visit this site. Much like my experience on the slave trail, I was unclear of what was a part of the site. I was a bit disappointed that I may have missed parts of the experience.

Easily located. Very heavy history. I think the city of Richmond can definitely do a better job at…read moreupkeep but that's neither here nor there. We already know anything as it relates to the history of slavery America tries to erase. This is a must see if you are in RVA to pay your respects.

The canal walk is not safe to walk alone. There are homeless in the area. It is an interesting…read morewalk. There are restaurants but you have to check ahead to see when they are open. We walked early because it was extremely hot. There are no public bathrooms in the area. Lucky there was a porta potty. The walk is a bit of a walk make sure you wear sunscreen and carry water.

So much history! Great photo ops…read more Lovely scenery I really enjoyed it, even the creep scary part!

At Chickahominy Bluff on the morning of June 26, 1862 more than 20,000 Confederate soldiers…read moregathered to prepare their advance across the Chickahominy River. General Robert E. Lee, seated on his horse nearby, was watching and listening for the movement beyond the river that would signal the opening of his offensive east of Richmond known as the Seven Days Battles. This site also contains the several remains of Confederate earthworks built to defend the city of Richmond.

When I visited the Chickahominy Bluff Battlefield on Sept. 13, there really wasn't much left of…read morethis historic site. The "Chickahominy Bluff Battlefield" contains just a few mounds of earthworks and a short trail leading to an overlook and an NPS historical marker. There is NO visitor center located here. As I understand, Chickahominy Bluff was the site where Confederate General Robert E Lee, James Longstreet, and D H Hill awaited the arrival of "Stonewall" Jackson's division from the Shenandoah Valley, to launch the 7 Days offensive. The earthworks surrounding the bluff were constructed after the 7 Days battles and were used to defend the Confederate capital of Richmond from an enemy attack. Because of so little that happened here, it amazes me that the National Park Service wants to maintain this ground as part of Richmond National Battlefield Park. There WASN'T even a BATTLE THAT OCCURED HERE!!!!! Nonetheless, I give this site 4-stars since it's a great place for you to make a quick stop if you're interested in Civil War history or for you to have a picnic. If you're visiting a Civil War site around Richmond, the 'Chickahominy Bluff Battlefield' is a great place to stop when heading to the Gaine's Mill, Cold Harbor, or Malvern Hill Battlefields. *On Saturday December 27th, I got a chance to re-visit Chickahominy Bluff on my way to the Beaver Dam Creek and Malvern Hill battlefields. Chickahominy Bluff has NOT improved AT ALL since I first visited the site.*

I enjoyed attending a candlelight concert at The Bolling Haxwell House. It was great!!! Parking…read morehowever is VERY VERY difficult to find! The venue has a very small parking lot that's nowhere near big enough to accomodate guests. The venue is beautiful, however and very well kept.

We attended a Candlelight Concert featuring a quartet of strings performing Vivaldi's "The Four…read moreSeasons" at Bolling Haxall House in Richmond. This beautiful concert was just over one hour long, and it was a real treat! The foyer and concert hall were lit with about 2,000 candles. The sound was crisp and clear. Tickets are sold by section, with Section A being the closest rows to the stage. We lucked out with front row seats. While they performed classical music tonight, we learned they also perform renditions of music by contemporary artists as well. We highly recommend!

This was actually a very cool and free thing to do on a recent visit to Richmond, VA. The great…read morething about the Capitol is that it's even open on Sundays, so it's easy to make time for it. Be aware - the entrance to the Capitol is not through the front doors - the entrance is way down on Bank St. I walked up all those steps in almost 100 degree weather - not a mistake I like to make, lol. That said, once inside, it's a cool walk around. The building is an interesting mix of old and new. There were a lot of empty courtrooms and miscellaneous statues and portraits. The building's architecture is fascinating and the domed ceiling took my breath away. Definitely recommend the Capitol. It's free and different.

I was here today for a tour with a group from a conference. I was grateful to be there and the tour…read morewas fine, but the guide, Bob Swisher, shouldn't be giving tours. His outdated attitude towards many topics culminated with him noticing an 18-year-old woman having her graduation photo taken outside. She was wearing a gorgeous mini dress, to which he made the unsolicited remark to our group, "Wow, not very demure. But I guess times have changed." Gross.

A friend and I stumbled onto this church on a recent trip to the Church Hill neighborhood. Neither…read moreof us grew up in VA, and we were both surprised to learn that this was the famous "Give me liberty or give me death" church. We didn't take a tour, but we enjoyed walking the grounds and looking at all of the old tombstones. I'd definitely take a tour the next time I'm in the area.

The spark to the American Revolution and subsequent independence started here, with the immortal…read morewords of Patrick Henry, surrounded by George Washington Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, and others. Great tour. They also do reenactments on the weekends. Although the church continues to run with a congregation, it is also home to the foundation that raises money to maintain it, run reenactments, and educate the public. Our tour guide, Betty, did an amazing job of explaining some of the history to us. We are also fortunate enough to meet the Foundation director, Who explained a bit of history as well. Well worth a visit.

I went here on a Saturday morning. It is free to visit. Took a paid 90-minute historic walking tour…read more(Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour) by The Valentine. Tour started at the entrance and we went to notable spots. We were only 7 in the tour. Our tour guide Doug who has been doing it for 14 seasons was very knowledgeable. He shared interesting facts, architectural/art styles, history of people and places/Richmond. We saw the iron dog, graves of the 2 US presidents (John Monroe's Tomb and John Tyler's Monument), Lewis Ginter Mausoleum, Palmer Chapel Mausoleum (and the overlooks on its sides), among others. It was a nice tour. I learned a lot. If you plan to go there on your own, there's a map from the website that you can download and use where there are markers for the notable spots. Google Maps does not have these spots in it. The restroom can be found on the left shortly after entering the cemetery. Lewis Ginter Mausoleum shows Victorian era architecture. When you peek through the door, you would see the nice Tiffany glass artwork behind. With its history, nice views overlooking the James River, the peaceful and quiet environment, this is a place worth checking out.

Every Richmonder, or person living in the vicinity of Virginia's capital city, should visit…read moreHollywood Cemetery at least once, possibly at least once a year. It's amazing. It's peaceful. It's beautiful. It's historic. It's a great place to take a walk. It's a great place to take photos or sit and read a book. Take a historic tour or read about all the notable tombs, lore and stories related to this cemetery and then take a long walk around with a friend or with your family. Spend a pretty day after work or on the weekend in the Spring, come back in the Fall. Just don't hurry yourself, take your time and absorb one of Richmond's most notable landmarks. The views from the various overlooks, hills, and the vistas overlooking the river and on to downtown are beautiful any time of year. There's no charge for admission, check the daily hours and plan a trip. You'll be glad you did. You'll likely come back.

We had a great summit at the Valentine. The set up was perfect and the staff were very attentive to…read moreour needs the meeting area was clean and well ventilated. After the event we were able to move about the museum that at some interesting items relevant to Richmond modern and older history. Great little museum to visit.

The Valentine, aka The Wickham House is located in downtown Richmond, and a stone's throw from the…read moreJ. Marshall House. It was a special tour that brought me to the Wickham House. Don't be confused by the name, The Valentine. This 19th-century home was purchased in 1898 by Mann Valentine Jr. who added a museum to the property and renamed it The Valentine. My visit was part of a dual tour with the John Marshall House (treason trial of A. Burr). The tour started promptly at the appointed time, and we began our tour of the home. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the Wickham house, the family and the history of that time. Her tour was much more than a simple recitation. She brought the home to life through her descriptions, easily fielded questions and encouraged discussions. We all gained a clear picture of life at that time as well as the role that John Wickham played in history. The house is kept in beautiful condition with many examples of how the family lived, from clothing to imagined food out on the table. I was truly impressed by the beauty of the home. After the tour we were able to meander through the museum that is a part of the property. It is an interesting stroll through Richmond's history from the early 1800's to the present. I would definitely suggest a visit here if you are a history fanatic. Check out your options for parking before you get here (I parked in one of the local garages and spent about $15).