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!

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.

The ruins are located on the grounds of the Barboursville Vineyard…read more They are all that remain of the grand brick mansion of James Barbour -- a Virginia governor, U.S. senator, Secretary of War under John Quincy Adams, and close friend of Thomas Jefferson. Built in 1822, the original house was designed by Thomas Jefferson in his neoclassical style, complete with a distinctive octagonal drawing room (note connection to the naming Barboursville Winnery award winning red!) On Christmas Day, 1884, the mansion burned in a devastating fire leaving only the brick walls, columns, and chimneys standing. Instead of rebuilding, the Barbour family moved to a nearby residence, and the ruins remain as a picturesque shell. A short walk from either the tasting room or cottages, this is a must stop for history buffs interested in civil war era and Thomas Jeffereson and photographers for the weathered remains with the vineyard and blue ridge foothills in the background Parking nearby if you choose to drive. Steep uneven climb from parking

This site is part of a winery complex which has a restaurant and an inn. The site is free to enter,…read morethough it is confusing as my map tried to bring me in on a dirt road that wasn't open rather than the actual entrance which is east of the site. I eventually wormed my way around to find the one-lane bridge to the site blocked by someone who bizarrely just seemed to want to sit there, so I parked at the winery/restaurant and walked over. It's a nice walk. The ruins are interesting to look at. There's not a lot to the site and you can't go past it as it becomes private space for guests of the site. It also closes at 5:30 and signs angrily warn that being there after 5:31 is trespassing, so you can't plan on catching a sunset there or anything. But if you looked this up and your goal is to see some cool ruins, you can, within limits.

It seems that the Battlefield is locked in time. It's off the beaten path which has helped…read morepreserve it. Plenty of walking paths the roads there now where there then.. the Glendale National Cemetery is a very short distance away and well worth a visit. Very sobering. The American Battlefield Trust has preserved some of the Glendale battlefield about 6 min away on Charles city road

This is a small battlefield. You can see cannon and the historic Watt House here. There are also…read morewalking trails here. Very well maintained.

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.

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.