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    The Poe Museum

    4.3 (168 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Tongela P.

    I've been a fan of Poe since middle school, so I'm not sure what took me so long to visit this museum, but I'm glad I finally did. It's small but packs a mighty punch! Despite the size, there is so much to explore and take in. Be prepared...I took a lot of pics! I loved meeting the black cats, Edgar and Pluto, that live there. RIP to Pluto who escorted us through part of our tour of the grounds. I ended my visit with perusing the gift shop, where I spent most of that time sniffing candles. I finally settled on The Black Cat candle and few other goodies.

    Poe museum
    Bella J.

    It is a very interesting and creepy place. As soon as I came in through the door, the creepiest black cat with the meanest green eyes greeted us. I had an instant creep. Turns out there isn't 1 but several black cats, of which one of them jumped at me in the room with his writing table, what looks like a crypt etc. Almost made me lose my soul. There isn't too much to see, but it provides interesting insights including the few words he came up with, his handwritten letter begging for money, his critique turned enemy writing s**t about him when he himself is the biggest creep who slept with his 40 day old corpse wife... lots of weird things.. I am glad I came here, but it was odd nonetheless.

    Poe bust in Stone House
    Lisa C.

    The Poe Museum is my favorite Richmond Museum and not just because it has cats. In addition to its courtyard greeters Edgar and Tib,, The Poe has knowledgeable human employees. As expected the museum displays contains much Poe memorabilia both personal and literary. They also host educational and entertaining events. I'm a fan of themed Unhappy Hours and Poe's birthday bash.

    Sunday afternoon
    Pat C.

    This is a small museum with 3 houses/places to visit. All the houses are airconditioned. No need for reservations. Went on a hot Sunday afternoon. Letters, books, furnitures, things belonging to Edgar Allan Poe and those related to him are on display. There's a nice garden at the middle with Poe's bust. The gift shop sells books, magnets, toys, posters, shirts, etc. Would not say it's a must see but if you have an hour to spare, you can learn a lot about his life and interesting facts.

    Poe Memorial
    Leinani S.

    If you have any interest in Edgar Allen Poe, this is a must-visit! The museum is comprised of several buildings surrounding a serene interior courtyard which display a fairly astounding number of personal artifacts belonging to Poe, his sister, his wife and other family members. There are also some pop culture artifacts and modern artworks on display. In particular, there is a rather fine daguerreotype of Poe and a letter from Poe to his famous contemporary Washington Irving. Tours are self-guided, so you can take as long as you like in the exhibits or just take a seat in the garden and make friends with the black cats who reside at the museum. There is a well-stocked gift store with everything from plushies and children's books to whiskey glasses and scholarly tomes on Poe. Admission fee with discounts for students and seniors. There is a very small parking lot at the side and additional parking on the street and in a nearby public lot. During special events it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance. Otherwise there is no need.

    Boot hooks
    Raven L.

    Very interesting museum filled with memorabilia and descriptions. Had a wonderful time perusing all the exhibits. I do feel like the enchanted garden area could use some love- but overall enjoyed my time here.

    Jenny H.

    This is the museum for me. I'm detailed oriented so it's easy to get overwhelmed with sights and info but the Poe museum is Just the right size. Great information and interesting artifacts that paint an informative picture of Poe's life. Only suggestion would be to have more direction as far as where to start reading in each room to have some chronological order. Liked that there was a free audio tour- only wish I had brought my airpods .

    Faye S.

    On our way home from Washington, D.C., we stopped at Poe Museum. I've always been an avid fan and thought how it'll be great to visit his museum. GPS took us directly to it. It's in a great location. There's a private parking lot for the museum. You can also park on the street if the parking lot's full if permitted. The museum itself comprises of the oldest house in Richmond, two more small buildings and a garden surrounded by the buildings. The ambience itself brings you back to the bygone era. The staff at the souvenir shop's friendly and helpful. The souvenir shop's stocked with everything Poe. I ended up buying a refrigerator magnet. I buy magnets of places I've been. Glad we stopped and paid homage to this great writer and poet. I'm just saddened by his tragic life. It was crowded when we went and felt rushed. It would be nice to come back during weekday so we can spend more time.

    William V.

    Nice way to kill some time in the city. The museum offers a self guided tour that takes about 45 minutes if you listen to the entire audio tour. I suggest you bring earbuds if you want to listen to the audio tour. There are 3 different buildings to look at. They all have displays about Poe's life. There is a garden in the center of the buildings. At the end of the tour we did spend some money in the gift shop. Fun afternoon.

    Entrance into the museum
    L P.

    My sister and I came here with a friend on a whim after dropping off another friend. The lady working inside the ticket office/gift shop was friendly and helpful. There is an audio tour option, but we mostly navigated without audio. We wandered the buildings and grounds for a little more than an hour. Everything was well kept, and I would definitely return, as I didn't get to read a majority of the plaques. Reading about Poe's life and death was eye-opening. The black cats around the grounds were used to people being around. I snagged a photo of one. (I had to open the door for the cat, and another came in right after.) The gift shop was lots of fun, and we found goodies to bring back home for family.

    Laurie V.

    This is a refresh of my last review of this very cool spot. (Which, by the way, happened to be my 1000th review on yelp!) So, yup. Still cool. Still macabre. Still interesting. Much busier this time. Same sweet cats, Edgar and Pluto. And if you read my last review, I am happy to say no harm was done by the door that maybe should not have been latched during the construction project. I really needed another two hours here to get the full experience, but we were on a tight schedule and had to keep it moving. Love love love this place. Don't worry. I'll be back evermore.

    Amber R.

    Museum is a great stop while heading somewhere else, Williamsburg in our case. Only $10 for about an hour of time walking around the beautiful grounds and reading some really interesting history. As a history teacher myself, I found everything super fascinating. I will say, though... the staff does not add to the experience. They're awkward and won't make eye contact with you; willing you to move on without so much as a quick chat. As a mom of an autistic child, I always like to give the benefit of the doubt... but when the entire staff is like that, it begins to detract from the experience because you feel like you're being hosted by some awkward teenagers, when in fact they're all grown adults. BUT, don't let that stop you even if you have the faintest interest in Poe!

    Poe's house
    The Review Guru ..

    I think Egar would be proud to know the city of Virginia didn't annihilate his house and property for some Condo Developer . I actually thought the museum was elegant and aristocratic in the portrayal of a man so few today know anything about. I sure learned a lot about him. From his actual journals to clothing to buildings. Bring a coffee and a breakfast sandwich with you, sit in the courtyard, and absorb the ambiance. Admission 10 bucks per person, they take cash and credit. Free parking lot on the premises which holds up to 11 vehicles. 2 hour parking in the street pay at the meter will cost $4 bucks so come early THE REVIEW GURU LONG ISLAND NY

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    Cute museum. Interesting historical objects. The cat in the garden was also lovely. Worth visiting

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    Ask the Community - The Poe Museum

    Review Highlights - The Poe Museum

    I chased it for 15 minutes, but we bought a Catterina of our own from the gift shop and a couple of Edgar's books.

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    Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - Lichtenstein.

    Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

    4.8(415 reviews)
    3.1 miMuseum District

    Wow, how my view of art has changed since my 2012 review!…read more For the last 10 or so years, I spend most of my time in the Modern/Contemporary areas of the museum. I definitely "get it" now! During yesterday's visit, I specifically went for the GIANTS exhibit showing the personal collection of Swizz Beats and Alicia Keys. A variety of amazing work both 2D and 3D, thoughtfully curated to showcase hip hop and black culture--and very generous of them to have it all on loan. The Basquiat was a must-see, though not one of the more impressive ones. The decommissioned prison uniforms was thought-provoking. The Kehinde Wiley paintings of Swizz Beats and Alicia Keys were everything. Gordon Parks and Jamel Shabazz photography. The Kwame Brathwaite photography were among my very favorites. Just wow. The color. The respect. The beauty. I would definitely go back to take it all in again.

    Absolutely one of the most impressive art museums I've been to in the United States and, even more…read moreimpressive, is that it's free! If they have a special exhibit there is a ticket fee. On this visit, the special exhibition was Giants featuring works from the Deans (Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz') collection. Fee was $12. It was a very large exhibit and was quite popular too. I really enjoyed the wide variety of modalities featured on display. The museum is currently undergoing a huge renovation but there is still a significant amount of art to see. The collections on display are diverse in both range and medium-ancient civilizations to contemporary and painting, sculpture, photography, textiles, Fabrege, decorative arts. I was really impressed with the extensive collections of American and European Art with paintings from many well-recognized artists: Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Edgar Degas, Boudin, Winslow Homer, Salvador Dali and several more. The Asian art collection is also significant and ranges from sculptures to drawings to ceramics with a significant amount of Buddhist art. Unique to this museum is the large collection of decorative arts: silvers, furniture, Fabrege, glass,etc. There was also a small area near the interactive family lounge area highlighting art completed by children participating in one of the many programs they offer throughout the year. The museum shop is worth visiting and is nicely curated. There's also a cafe on the first floor and a restaurant on the third. Parking is available in the parking deck adjacent to the building for $6. Another interesting thing to note: the museum is open 365 days a year!

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    Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - Giants exhibition

    Giants exhibition

    Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
    Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

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    Science Museum of Virginia - Hunter and Sarah Photography

    Science Museum of Virginia

    3.8(139 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    I grew up visiting the Franklin Institute in Philly on school field trips, so I had to temper my…read moreexpectations ahead of visiting Richmond's Science Museum. I've visited twice within the past month -- once on a chilly weekend day to explore all the sights, and again this past weekend for Neon Night. The museum itself is pretty dense with exhibits. The Power of Poison exhibit was very well thought out and loaded with details and visuals. You could easily spend an hour in there. I enjoyed the Boost exhibit the most, as it was hands on. I don't have kids, so I can't speak for the kids-focused activities, but I did enjoy the reptile room quite a bit too -- especially the "search" for certain creatures in their tanks. Neon Night was well done and attended by seemingly half of the city. I kept running into people I knew. I'd definitely attend one of their after-hours events again in the future. At $25, admission was reasonable. Drinks were also cheap. A cup of wine was just shy of $7. I was shocked that the dome show was narrated, as I was expecting it to be more of a movie vibe. I do wish they'd add a coat check. It's nice they have a parking lot adjacent to their building, but it's still a decently long walk when it's 20 degrees outside.

    I haven't been to the Science Museum in so long. Can't even remember the last time. Probably when I…read morehad an astronomy class there in college. I decided to take my mom to a dome show on a whim and was a little underwhelmed. I wasn't expecting it to be "live" and narrated by a person. I was expecting a recorded show. A movie, I guess. Documentary. The live part allows you to interact, which the kids seem to enjoy. But to me, that felt unorganized and not what I was there for. I know now, and will change my expectations. Maybe there are other "movies." I also didn't like how the navigation into the auditorium leads you to the bottom--the worst seating. It should lead you to the top where the best seating is. We didn't do the full monty and see the exhibits. Definitely would like to return to take it all in.

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    Science Museum of Virginia
    Science Museum of Virginia - Hunter and Sarah Photography

    Hunter and Sarah Photography

    Science Museum of Virginia

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    Virginia Museum of History & Culture

    Virginia Museum of History & Culture

    4.4(54 reviews)
    3.2 miMuseum District

    If you're into history and/or call Virginia home, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture is worth…read morea visit. Open every day from 10am-5pm, tickets are between $8 and $12 with children five and under free. Located next to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture is inside a historic building erected to commemorate the Confederacy. Now it's a museum honoring all Virginians, regardless of background. Here's why you should visit: 1) Entrance: There's a large parking lot near the main entrance. Walk inside and you'll see a well-designed cafe that serves local coffee and food, a bookstore with books and products from Virginia, restrooms, and the ticket area. Staff are helpful and the entire space is kept clean. 2) Exhibits: Start with the 15-minute film about the history of Virginia starting 16,000 years ago to today. It's worth the time. Then explore the exhibit halls where you can find art, artifacts like letters George Washington wrote, and more. One exhibit walks through history of Virginia from 16,000 to present day. Another honors all five regions of Virginia. Another talks about the original murals in the building and another showcases art of Virginia. Little rooms are filled with more exhibits displaying some of the 9,000,000 objects in their collection. There's even an area for kids to play in a little market, try on colonial clothes, and more. Interactive exhibits are part of every room. 3) Experience: It's not an overwhelming museum, but you can easily spend a few hours seeing most items and reading most displays. I learned a lot!

    Not sure what I was expected, but I was sorely disappointed with this museum. The fee is $12 and I…read morefeel I spent about 12 minutes in there, so one dollar for every moment spent? Idk, I didn't feel that price tag was worth it. The history and culture wasn't presented in a way I thought captured my attention, nor made me want to retain said information or learn more. Save your $$$ and go to the VMFA which is right there, amazing, and free.

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    Virginia Museum of History & Culture
    Virginia Museum of History & Culture
    Virginia Museum of History & Culture

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    The Valentine - Clock at steps

    The Valentine

    4.1(29 reviews)
    0.7 miDowntown

    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).

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    The Valentine - Museum items

    Museum items

    The Valentine - Set up for event

    Set up for event

    The Valentine - Conference set up

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    Conference set up

    The American Civil War Museum- White House of the Confederacy

    The American Civil War Museum- White House of the Confederacy

    4.0(93 reviews)
    0.6 miDowntown

    I came to Richmond for the week for a work trip and had some free time so I wanted to check out…read moresome Civil War stuff. Richmond is an amazing city with a rich and vibrant history, so you should make your way here! I was too late to go inside but the exterior oozed history. I could picture the South's generals huddled inside trying to plan their next move. It's a bit weird to see this relic in the heart of the medic district but fitting for such A city.

    I had no idea this was here until my friend indicated he wanted to come here, so quite a neat find!…read more While you will need the patience of a saint to get the parking down (park in the big hospital lot and get parking validation inside the museum), everything else about this visit was excellent. We had a great tour and a very personalized one since only three guests (including my friend and I) were on the tour. The white house of the confederacy is full of history and our guide provided a ton of background on Jefferson Davis and his family, which was particularly cool since I had recently gone with my parents to the historical naval base where he was held prisoner for several years after the end of the civil war. The furnishings were very beautiful and nicely maintained, amazing how often these estates of antiquity had to sell their things to make ends meet and then organizations have to chase them down later to bring everything back together. Still, very cool to be in the rooms where so much history was made. It's so unusual for such an important part of history to be surrounded by hospital buildings, though that is the nature of Richmond: a whole lot of stories in a relatively compact region. Lucky to have been able to learn a bit more about it here! Overall: 4.5 stars ----- Pros: - Excellent tour guide who clearly had made a study of the many features of the house and its former occupants. - White house and its furniture were in beautiful shape, clearly the organization is doing a great job keeping everything maintained. - Price for the tour wasn't too bad considering you get a personalized tour for it. Cons: - The parking situation here is a pain but doable if you plan ahead.

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    The American Civil War Museum- White House of the Confederacy
    The American Civil War Museum- White House of the Confederacy - Entrance

    Entrance

    The American Civil War Museum- White House of the Confederacy - White House officials The Confederacy

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    White House officials The Confederacy

    The Poe Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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