It was awesome reading about the various ladies and what they contributed to American society. I…read morewonder if the statues are life size, or close to it.

While exploring downtown Richmond, I stumbled across this pretty cool display that features some of…read morethe women who had a great impact on the State of Virginia. If you're near the statehouse, stop by and check this out and you'll probably learn some things you didn't know about our state's history.

This marker is in front of the Craig House. According to Zillow, over a million dollars but not for…read moresale. The marker tells us about the house and its history. It reads, "The Craig House, perhaps Richmond's second oldest structure, was built between 1784 and 1787 by Adam Craig (b. ca. 1760-d. 1808). He was clerk of the Richmond Hustings Court, the Henrico County Court, and the General Court. To save the house, a group of Richmond citizens in 1935 formed the William Byrd Branch of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. The house served Richmond's black community as the Craig House Art Center from 1938 to 1941." [Review 11770 overall, 1552 of 2019.]

This marker is located on the east side of US-1 / US-301 just north of the cloverleaf intersection…read morewith SR-288. It's a reminder of another battle between the Confederacy and the Union that took place here, about half-way between Richmond and Petersburg. The marker reads, "To the west of the road here at Proctor's Creek Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler's Union Army of the James attacked the outer line of the Confederates' Drewry Bluff defenses on 13-14 May 1864. On the first day, Union Maj. Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore struck the Confederate right flank, commanded by Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom, Jr. Ransom's troops crumpled under the onslaught, rallied and counterattacked, and finally fell back to the main lines at Kingsland Creek. On 14 May, Gillmore and Maj. Gen. William F. Smith launched coordinated attacks that drove through the first defensive line but stopped short of the second. The Federals then entrenched." [Review 11969 overall, 1751 of 2019.]

This interesting marker predates the Civil War and Revolutionary War histories of the Richmond area…read moreand recall the days when Virginia was just an English colony. The marker reads, "In 1611, Farrar's Island was the site of the "Citie of Henrico," one of Virginia's first four primary settlement areas under the Virginia Company of London. Later, it was part of a 2,000-acre land patent issued posthumously to William Farrar in 1637. Farrar, who arrived in Virginia from London in 1618 aboard the Neptune, invested in the company under its third charter. In 1626, Governor Sir George Yeardley appointed Farrar to the governor's Council, a position he occupied until 1632. He also served as a justice for two counties. Farrar family members resided on the island until they sold it to Thomas Randolph on 26 Jan. 1727." There do not appear to be many Farrar's left in the area. [Review 11971 overall, 1754 of 2019.]

This statue is located in a little plaza area by the Main Street Train Station and Richmond's…read moreformer slave market in Shockoe Bottom. This statue is one of 3 identical ones that are part of the triangle of Richmond, which are located in cities that played a prominent role in the slave trade. The other two cites are Liverpool, England; and the Republic of Benin. The statues aim is to raise awareness and set the record straight about Richmond's true role in the slave trade. The statue was dedicated in 2007 and is the work of Stephen Broadbent. It stands 15-feet tall and weighs about a half a ton. This simple abstract sculpture depicts two figures in an embrace. One side of the sculpture has the following inscription: "Acknowledge and Forgive the Past, Embrace the Present, Shape a Future of Reconciliation and Justice." You will find three large wood benches in a triangle formation around the statue. There is also a marble wall there, that reads "THE TRIANGLE Liverpool, England The Benin Region of West Africa Richmond, Virginia During the 18th Century, these three places reflected on of the well-known triangles in the trade of enslaved Africans. Men, women and children were captured in West and Central Africa and transported from Benin and other countries. They were chained, herded, loaded on ships built in England and transported through the unspeakable horrors of the Middle Passage. They were imported and exported in Richmond, Virginia and sold in other American cities. Their forced labor laid the economic foundation of this nation." There is supposed to be a water fall running down that wall, but that was not operational while I was there and appears to have been that way for a while. There is an informational placard at the entrance to the plaza area that explains the significance of the sculpture. This is a basic, but powerful sculpture that has a message. I liked it. You will find metered street parking out front and within a reasonable walking distance from the statue. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy and prior to that was a major business/government…read moreheadquarters for the American Colonies (Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech here in Richmond). So it makes sense that a reconciliation statue which attempts to address the issues of slavery is here. The plaque at the foot lists three places and their impact on the slave trading triangle. Liverpool England, the Benin Region of West Africa and Richmond Virginia. "During the 18th Century, these three places reflected one of the well-known triangles in the trade of enslaved Africans. Men, women and children were captured in West and Central Africa and trans ported from Benin and other countries. They were chained, herded, loaded on ships built in England and transporter through the unspeakable horrors of the Middle Passage. They were imported and exported in Richmond, Virginia and sold in other American cities. Their forced labor laid the economic foundation of this nation." [Review 12181 overall, 1965 of 2019.]

A sad story in the Civil War days, the Richmond fire that took place as the Union army captured the…read morecity. It took place shortly after President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet fled to the south. Much of the city was already abandoned by this time. The marker reads, "After midnight on 3 April 1865, Confederate soldiers set fire to several tobacco warehouses nearby on orders from Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell, as the army evacuated Richmond and marched west. Two distinct fires spread rapidly throughout the commercial and industrial sections of the capital. The core of the burned-out area, some 35 blocks, extended from the James River in some areas as far north as Capitol Square, and from 4th St. east to 16th St. Frightened citizens huddled in Capitol Square while looters rampaged and firefighters battled the fires. The Union army, which occupied the city early on 3 April, finally brought the fires under control in the afternoon." There are some excellent and distressing pictures here: https://www.citylab.com/equity/2014/04/what-richmond-looked-after-confederate-troops-set-it-fire/8811/ [Review 11979 overall, 1762 of 2019.]

Small monument to one of the more colorful Confederate generals of the Civil War, who was mortally…read morewounded near this spot on May 11th, 1864 at the Battle of Yellow Tavern. The monument is now cared for by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. My GPS took me short of the actual location, but eventually I found it. J.E.B. Stewart was the cavalry commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, under Lee. But while Lee and Grant were facing off at Spotsylvania Court House to the north, Union Gen Phillip Sheridan broke off to harass the Confederate rear. Stewart was sent to stop him. By this point in the war, Union cavalry was equal if not superior to their Confederate counterparts. It also helped that Sheridan outnumbered his opponent 10,000 to 4,500. The results were predicable. A unit under General George Custer (yes, THAT Custer) lead an attack on Stewart's left flank; Stewart tried to rally his men, but was shot in the stomach. Stewart died the next day, ordering that his spurs and sword be given to his son, his last words "I am resigned; God's will be done." There's not much to say about the monument; just a regular obelisk, nothing fancy, with a few Confederate flags surrounding it. Apparently if you follow the NPS directions you may find some earthworks for Richmond's outer defenses, but the 'tavern' itself is long gone. Now, all you see in the area are modern houses, which make it difficult to imagine the sound of battle.

This small memorial is in the middle of a residential neighborhood. We met a friend here but ended…read moreup going to Starbucks instead.

This marker points out the history of the Falls of Richmond - the river rapids that made Richmond…read morewhat it is. There is also a fountain here in the intersection. The marker reads, "The Falls of the James River are the central physical fact of Richmond, having directly influenced its history through their effect upon Trade, Energy, Community and Nourishment." "Trade - As the Falls of the James are a natural barrier between the sea and the interior, the area immediately surrounding the Falls has for centuries been a center for trade. Before European settlement, the Powhatan and Monacan Indians exploited the lands around the Falls as a trading center for the entire region. With the arrival of Europeans, trade between the settlers and Indians flourished and the warehousing and export of tobacco grew in importance. Later, Richmond became a major transportation hub as a result of the construction of the James River and Kanawha Canal, built to by-pass the Falls. Transportation, hydro-power and nearby coal deposits made Richmond a center for the manufacture and trade of flour, wheat, tobacco and iron. Even today, Richmond's commercial and financial core overlooks the whitewater rapids of the Falls." "Energy - Though a barrier to navigation, the Falls were a boon to industry. Richmonders harnessed the water flow of the Falls to drive flour mills, iron plants, and paper mills, all major components of the city's manufacturing growth. Later, hydro power from the Falls was utilized to generate electricity which fed the industrial and residential needs of the community. This included the powering of Richmond's trolley system, the first in the world to successfully operate by electricity." "Community - The Falls and its environs have always provided the most basic physical requirements for settlement and community: food, water, energy, and transport. With the growth of trade and industry along the Falls, Richmond became a more culturally diverse community as immigrants from all parts of Europe followed English settlers to the region. African-American slaves provided much of the labor and many of the skills and crafts essential to the early growth of Richmond, and upon achieving their freedom, became a major factor in the culture and growth of the city. Richmond's selection as Virginia's capital and later as capital of the Confederacy can be traced to the city's growth along the river. While the livelihood of Richmond depends less today on the James, our community's mutual bond still begins at the Falls." "Nourishment - The Falls provided a wealth of vegetation, fish, wildlife and fresh water to nourish both Native Americans and early European settlers. By the early 1800's, hydro power from the Falls drove pumps which provided the City with its first municipal drinking water system. Today, the Falls of the James continue to provide Richmonders with spiritual nourishment, whether through contemplation of the natural beauty of the Falls or through the unique recreational opportunities available along the James: white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and swimming." Check it out and you'll get a better understanding of Richmond. [Review 11802 overall, 1584 of 2019.]