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!

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.*

Another Henrico County owned gem! Reminiscent of days past along the historical…read moreMountain Road corridor! Frequently, visitors to the area pull up to the gas pumps looking for gasoline!

Cute little gas station from circa 1925. Very nicely maintained. Of course, it is no longer…read moreoperating. You can park in the little lot and get out for a look at the old pumps. Worth a stop for a taste of history. There is an interpretative sign in front. Nice park to picnic at across the street.

This marker records an important cusp of Virginia's history. Located in front of the Virginia State…read moreCapitol on Broad Street. It reads, "Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter, defined under Virginia's 1924 Racial Integrity Act as an interracial couple, married in June 1958 in Washington, D.C., and returned home to Caroline County. Arrested in July for violating Virginia's laws against interracial marriage, the Lovings were convicted and sentenced to one year in jail, suspended on the condition that they leave Virginia. In 1963 they obtained help from the American Civil Liberties Union, which unsuccessfully sought to reverse their convictions in the state courts of Virginia and then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which, in the case Loving v. Virginia (1967), overturned all state laws restricting marriage on the basis of race." One must wonder if Virginia specifically chose their "Virginia Is For Lovers" slogan in light of how much they fought this couple, all the way to the Supreme Court. [Review 12317 overall, 2101 of 2019.]

Located in a little park with several things to see. Convenient to many of the downtown hotels…read more Highly recommend adding this to the list of things to check out in Richmond.

Wonderful artistry in the statue and great location in the center of downtown. The timeline around…read morethe statue and the statue itself are both wonderful to see in person.

"Let us be strong and make big plans!" -Maggie Walker…read more Maggie Walker has truthfully made a name for herself! Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1864 and raised by her mother Elizabeth Draper, a former slave, Maggie began to make a change as a teenager. Ms. Maggie Walker was an African American entrepreneur with a vision to make tangible improvements in the way of life for African Americans. She was a bright woman of many firsts, who dedicated her life to making positive social change within the community, especially for African American woman. Ms. Walker was the first woman bank president in the United States. She was also known as a writer, teacher, activist and speaker. If you are in the City of Richmond, I would strongly encourage you to check out Maggie Walkers' National Historic Site, located on E Leigh Street. I believe the National Park has done an exceptional job being able to tell the story of Maggie Walker and reliving her life. Maggie Walker is truly a woman that has accomplished a lot in her life, despite her disability as well as being an African American woman, and deserves to be remembered for her great achievements! Although this statue is located on the main street in Downtown Richmond, I still truly encourage to check out this memorial plaza.

I was visiting the city of Richmond during Black History Month and because of the historical and…read morecultural significance of Richmond during the slave trade - I wanted to make sure I saw and did as much as I could to explore this part of its history. The Emancipation and Freedom Monument is a beautiful bronze statue that was commissioned in 2021. The very nature of the topic that the statue represents, made it extremely powerful to see in person. I would highly recommend visiting the monument, as it is very moving, inspiring and has information on some of the KEY Virginians that fought against slavery and equality.

All I can say is wow! I wish I could give this sculpture 5 more stars. It is as amazing as it is…read morepowerful. It is the center piece of Brown's Island. The piece, which is the work of Thomas Jay Warren of Oregon, was dedicated in 2021. It depicts two 12-foot statues. The first statue is of a shirtless male slave that has freed himself from the shackles around his wrist. The statue is very detailed and almost looks real. You can even see the whip marks on his back and his abs. The other stature that makes up this monument is of a woman that is cuddling a baby in her left hand and holding up what I assume are her freedom papers. The paper has the date January 1, 1863, which happens to be the date that Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. On the back of the base you will find the word "FREEDOM". On the other sides of the base you will find the names, images, and brief biographical information of ten African American Virginians whose lives were dedicated to Emancipation and freedom. one side displays five individuals from the period before Emancipation through 1865 (Mary Bowser, William Harvey Carney, Gabriel, Dred Scott, and Nat Turner). The opposite side has five people that continued to work for freedom from 1865 to 1970 (Rosa Dixon Bowser, John Mercer Langston, John Mitchell Jr., Lucy F. Simms, Wyatt Tee Walker). This is one of the best sculptures that I have ever seen and is so impactful. The detail on the sculptures is amazing. The choice of having this monument in Virginia is fitting, given that the state was key in the slave trade. If you could only see one sculpture not only in Virginia, but in the United States, it should be this was. Warren "dropped the mic" on this one. It would be tough for any sculpture to live up to the standard set by this one.

This is a local attraction that can easily be missed. It is located right off of a highway entrance…read moreramp and on the Historic Slave Trail. The grounds are well maintained and kept. It is opposite of the side that the Lumpkin Slave Jail is located. You can take an underpass to walk freely between the two sites. This was the first designated burial spot for the city's enslaved and free residents of African ancestry, dating back to as late as 1799. This one and a half acres was considered poor quality and had no other use but the cemetery. It was also the site of public hangings. Other names the site has been known as Potter's Field, were Burying-ground for Coloured persons, Grave Yard for Free People of Color" and Grave Yard for For Slaves You will find a memorial obelisk here with a plaque dedicating the cemetery. Their is also a spot with a couple of information placards that look likes a spot that people hold rituals and leave sacrifices/personal effects. The vast majority of the grounds is low cut green space. Additionally, there is a vacant and decrepit building there. I do not know what it was prior, but it looks historical. This is a nice place to visit. I would not consider it a long stop, so I would probably couple it with a visit to the old Lumpkin Slave Jail and other nearby attractions to maximize your time.

Be on the look out because this landmark is easy to miss.This plaque is located on a bridge that…read moregoes over a park. Attached to the plaque is a rope going over the bridge and at the end of the rope is a noose. The area below was closed due to construction at the time of my visit. I apologize for no further information.