I love history... I love that Virginia is packed with so many interesting museums, old towns and historic sites! Whenever visitors come to see us from other states, we always take them on a drive down this iconic Avenue! Monument Avenue is unique and beautifully maintained. The various houses along the drive are well kept and architecturally appealing. From Colonial, to Spanish, to English Tudor, and other styles, you will enjoy seeing these lovely Southern homes. In the spring, the pear trees, crape myrtles, dogwoods and other trees burst into bloom leaving a spectacular site among the flowers that line the median. I love the areas where there is some old cobblestones preserved from bygone days. The monuments are a testament to our Virginia history. While we take our drive, we like to have the passengers google the various statues and brush up on the various historic and modern figures, learn about their background, catch a glimpse of the past and really get a sense of our place in the present. If you're a history buff, love buildings or scenic views, a leisurely drive down this landmark avenue is a Richmond treat! read more

Monument Avenue - Erasing a face won't erase history. Sign of the times. Someone said we may rename this Pedestal Avenue. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Monument Avenue is worth a drive or walk down if you're in the area. Lined with trees, churches, and old architecture, it is a beautiful part of town. As a bit of a Civil War history buff, I was disappointed that the statues do not have much educational information to explain the lives of the people they depict. It's an educational opportunity wasted to not put them into context. It is also difficult to appreciate the sculptors' work on such a busy street, but that actually goes to show that the original intent of the Avenue has succeeded. After the death of General Robert E. Lee in 1870, land owned by Otway C. Allen was chosen as the future site of a Lee memorial statue and a larger avenue of monuments dedicated to famous Confederate Virginians, Including J.E.B. Stuart, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis. (Fun fact: Interestingly, Lee explicitly stated before his death that he did not wish any statues to be erected in his honor, nor any symbols of the Confederacy to be kept and displayed.) Oceanographer Matthew Maury and tennis player Arthur Ashe later joined the Avenue in 1929 and 1996. The City of Richmond and developers hoped such a street, scenically lined by trees and flowers, would attract wealthy Richmonders to the area and raise property values. A century later the Avenue still attracts home buyers, tourists, and protesters alike as a major landmark. read more

I've been told that my Monument should be on Monument Avenue. Would that make me one of the Monuments Men? If you're one of the people that said that about me, Hanks very much. This is a pretty awesome road - or Avenue, I should say - in Richmond, where a lot of the most beautiful old houses and sights and churches in town are located, on a very short stretch of gorgeous old-style colonial grandeur. No wonder people like this road. Driving through Richmond is never complete without driving along this road. Especially at night when it's particularly scary and haunting. And if you come over tonight, I will show you something even more particularly scary and haunting. read more

Monument Avenue - I considered posting a picture of my own Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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It does what it says on the tin, this is actually an avenue of monuments. Wide, a decent amount of residential parking, and easy to navigate with plenty to see along the way. Not just Confederate statues, this tree-lined roadway honors J.E.B Stuart, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, Matthew Fontaine Maury and Arthur Ashe. Yep, four Confederate leaders, a meteorologist and a world-renowned tennis player. Per Virginia law, the statues of the Confederates are "veteran monuments" and may not be removed or altered. So they might just be here for a while, even though they occasionally get tagged by graffiti. Worth your time to visit. [Review 11793 overall, 1575 of 2019.] read more

We drove down Monument Avenue on our recent visit to Richmond. The statues are all very nice and we were impressed with the large one honoring Jeff Davis. The city has done a very nice job preserving history so those of us that appreciate knowing more about it can come and see. read more

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Monument Avenue is often considered the backbone of Richmond. The historic "meat" of the street extends West from Lombardy Street to Thompson Street. Monument Avenue was voted as one of the Top 10 Streets in the country and was featured on "Great Drives" on HGTV. It is the only street in the United States currently registered as a National Historic Landmark. Cobble stoned and divided by a treed median that is a favorite for runners, civil war aficionados, architecture and history buffs and anyone looking for a visual tour de force, Monument Avenue is a "must see" for anyone looking for the essence of this city. Block after block of city mansions of varying styles can become almost overwhelming if not taken in small doses. Most famously, Monument Avenue was laid out to showcase monuments to both Civil War heros ( Robert E Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, Jefferson Davis, "Stonewall "Jackson and famous Richmond residents as well ( Mathew Fontaine Maury and Arthur Ashe) The street also includes apartment buildings, churches, condominiums and the Virginia Center for Architecture which is located in the historic John Kerr Branch house. This house is the largest on Monument Avenue and takes up almost an entire block. Not to be missed are the homes decorated in Christmas finery and The Monument Avenue Easter Parade is one of Richmond's most beloved events. read more

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Let us all be honest about this street. It's beautiful. Once cobbled, it's now a paved, tree-lined avenue with wide, pleasant tree-filled medians. The length of it is filled with some of the nicer architecture that Richmond has to offer, and most of the statues are very well executed. A pleasant walk, heavy with history. But... it's sort of awkward history, depending on your personal views on the losing side of the civil war [even if some of them are relatives], made even moreso when the single non-Confederate statue is a frankly heinous depiction of poor Arthur Ashe [which caused an awkward hullabaloo when it was commissioned]. Seriously, the statue is so bad it's in a Cracked article. Perhaps if I were a runner or otherwise in any fashion inclined towards joining the multitudinous Monument Avenue 10ks, I might be more excited, but I'm not. There are some good restaurants up there, though... read more

Monument Ave started as a tribute to the South's Confederate Generals, although it's purpose was expanded by its inclusion of tennis great (and native Richmonder) Arthur Ashe. "Father of Modern Oceanography" (and de-facto Confederate diplomat and inventor of the sea mine) Matthew Fontaine Maury rounds out the statues. But discussing the statues isn't the purpose of my review. It's impossible to drive down this street without admiring the mansions that flank the road. If anyplace in Richmond exudes Southern charm and grandeur, it's this street. So whether you agree or disagree with the history, it's definitely worth a visit. read more

I guess it's best to erase history and censor it so we're doomed to repeat it. Logic by the weak

I expressed contempt for a street being reviewable. My husband replied, "Well. It IS a historic street with historic monuments on it. I can see that." So perhaps it's not as stupid as I think it is. That said, there are lots of civil war monuments here. Hence, the name. Nearly all the southern war heroes face south...so I guess you know which way is south if you get lost? Unless you're standing at Boulevard. Popular wisdom has it that Stonewall used to face south but when they widened the street he wouldn't fit that way so they turned him sideways. Same wisdom also says his horse is buried under the monument. Then again, I'm spectacularly gullible. Speaking of popular wisdom, the last statue west is Arthur Ashe. Story goes that since he's a black man who died of AIDS the Daughters of the Confederacy didn't want him on the civil war hero street. Theoretically there was a giant fight over it and in the end the Ashe supporters only won by agreeing to face him the other way. He's holding a book and a tennis racket "out" (above his head) to the youth of Richmond because those were his philanthropic contributions. There are, however, many jokes about how it looks more like he's beating them back with the book and racket. It really does. Zombie kids trying to climb up him are getting beaten back! Monument is a nice walk or drive. On a nice day you'll see lots of people grilling out, playing games, or sunbathing in the median. The Easter "parade", which is really a promenade, is held here on Easter Sunday. Three stars instead of four because people need to learn how to damn drive. The wide medians do not signal that you need to stop in the middle of the street. It's a left turn like any other left. You don't stop in the middle of the street and wait for the light on the street you're turning onto to change on a normal street do you? Also. Entering a roundabout, yield to traffic in the circle. read more

I'm all about some Monument Avenue, especially after I found out my friend Gregg lives in one of the homes on this historic strip. He and his partner hosted a fun Easter brunch and afterward we were all able to walk down to the "parade" for more drinks and party hopping. I used quotation marks around parade because it was more of a block party, but I digress... The neighborhood is beautiful and even though I think it's strange that some people use the median as a park, it's kind of cool to see folks laying out and playing frisbee in the small stretch of grass between traffic. read more

I want to go to there! I pictured Monument Avenue being a busy commercial boulevard with monuments all along it. For some reason I envisioned something borderline Soviet (Shows what I know about Confederate history). What a pleasant street this is! Even without the monuments, the neighborhood is one of the best in Richmond. Though Richmond was thrashed in the Civil War, many of these buildings appear to be antebellum. There are some truly gorgeous Southern mansions along this road, and the whole area has a very pleasant atmosphere. The monuments themselves are great. I don't fully get the Arthur Ash one, but that is for Richmondians (I made that up) to debate. The Lee and Davis monuments are staggeringly-awesome. So basically, I want to buy a house on Monument Avenue and live in Richmond. When I feel the need for urban grit I can walk a few blocks north and hang out on Broad Street. I can pretend to love basketball when VCU is in the Final Four. But I doubt I'd do any of those things. I would just spend my days strolling Monument Avenue until I realized I needed food, at which point I would get deeper into The Fan. read more

I'm not too sure what all the hype is about. Yes, it's a lovely, quaint street which I'm sure is nice to jog on. But either than Arthur Ashe, are there any non-confederate monuments? I know Richmond was the capitol of the south, and yes, it's rich and a part of the history of the city but I KNOW Richmond has so much more to offer as well. Hopefully as time passes a wider, more diverse history can be acknowledged. I will say they do an excellent job at maintaining the monuments, which is important! read more

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This is one of the most scenic strolls I've ever taken. I do recommend you park your car and walk at least a mile along this stately avenue of the historic Fan District to get the most out of it. The architecture of the residential grand houses dotting this street is absolutely stunning. The style ranges from Queen Anne, Victiorian, Tudor, Colonial, and Greek Revival. The monuments and gardens along the way are outstanding. They are statues of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jeb Stuart, Matthew Fontaine Maury, Jefferson Davis, and Arthur Ashe. It was freezing cold on the day of my urban hike, but I was so mesmerized by the scenery that I didn't notice how brutal the weather was. I just kept walking up and down this avenue admiring the beauty of it all. read more

Monument Avenue is where all the monuments of Confederate generals are. Arthur Ashe was added later. It's frequented by runners and sunbathers in summer since there's a grassy divider. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Monument Avenue in Richmond is home to several statues/monuments of famous Richmond heroes and also some awesome homes. This is the only street in the US registered as a National Landmark. You'll find statues of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, J.E.B. Stuart, Matthew Fontaine Maury, Jefferson Davis, and Arthur Ashe along this route. My favorite was the Jefferson Davis Monument which of note has 13 columns, one for each confederate state. The Robert E. Lee Monument is colossal and a close second. A must see for all history and architecture buffs. read more

In addition to my many other vices, I'm a window peeper. I go to exquisite neighborhoods and walk down the street trying to peer in the windows of the fabulous houses I lust after. Monument Avenue is a great location for voyeuristic design deviates like me. And I love the fact that tennis warrior Arthur Ashe stands proudly in line with Jeb Stuart... read more

Take a drive, bike ride, or walk down this amazing strip. Beautiful homes and statues.

Monument Avenue is unique as the only street to be designated a national historical site. It includes six monuments of historical Virginians: J.E.B. Stuart, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, Matthew Maury, and Arthur Ashe. Most are honored because of their contributions to the Confederacy during the Civil War, but Arthur Ashe is remembered for his outstanding tennis career and contributions to education. You will also take in some of Richmond's finest architecture as you proceed. Simply driving down the street is an exceptional educational experience. We realize that Monument Avenue is not an educational business per se, but we need the extra credit. read more

We were passing through Richmond and decided to drive down the avenue. Beautiful brick houses on both sides of the boulevard, and huge statues along the way. Worth a side trip off the expressway if you have a few minutes to spare. read more

Nothing compares with Monument Avenue at Christmas time. Doors with "monumental" wreaths dripping with Southern flair.