I came in with a homeschooling group from the base and we had a great experience. The facility was…read morevery clean and well organized. Staff was very friendly, informative, and interactive. We had a great experience and highly recommend.

Very well laid out, probably little known museum dedicated to all the women who have served in the…read moreUnited States Army. The museum is located on Fort Lee Army Post and I'm guessing that might limit access. I did see tour busses dropping visitors off at the door so there must be a way for those without a DoD ID Card to visit. Maybe the base gives out visitor passes. Can't hurt to check at the entrance gate. The museum is free and accepts donations which helps with upkeep and additions to exhibits. Very informative and covers the complete history of women in the Army. In the early days, females were not issued weapons. I image some trying to do their jobs, being in harm's way and not able to defend themselves. Good thing that changed over time. And another tidbit, when they said they needed transportation, the Army issued them bicycles. The exhibits are very well done and some give you a sense of being in that space and time. The folks that put this together did an excellent job. Self paced and if you read everything you could spend a couple of hours here. Air conditioned- thank goodness.

Wow this place is just full of history & oh so beautiful at Christmastime. My husband & I enjoyed…read morethe holiday tour over the weekend. The designer rooms & all the trees were just stunning!! All of the staff & volunteers in hand were so kind & friendly. We learned this event happens every year & we will definitely be attending in the future.

Centre Hill Mansion was built in 1823 by Robert Bolling IV after the King of England granted the…read morefamily this plot of land in present-day Petersburg. After multiple renovations the architecture features a trio of styles. The mansion's South Facade is dominated by a Greek Revival-style porch with ionic columns along with ornamentation in an early Federal style and Colonial Revival style. Centre Hill served as Union headquarters during the reconstruction period, and President Abraham Lincoln spoke to Union soldiers occupying the mansion during a trip to Petersburg in April 1865. Its doors were opened as a museum in the 1950s.

Located in the 1839 Exchange Building, the Siege Museum depicts everyday life in Petersburg before,…read moreduring, and after the Civil War. Artifacts, documents, and photographs detail the 10-month siege of Petersburg (June 1864 - April 1865). When we entered the building, we were greeted by two elderly ladies, one of whom promptly told us she was from NY and therefore decided she would be our guide (so we could bond). Not so much. She explained a few photos on the walls and then took us by elevator onto the second floor, where we sat down to watch a film, "The Echoes Still Remain," narrated by the late film star and Petersburg native Joseph Cotten. The 18-minute film gives an overview of Petersburg's involvement in the Civil War. Sadly, the film was very poor quality (was out of focus) but it was informative. They need to get it onto a DVD, pronto. The guide explained some more photos and pretty much left us alone...but we were watched like a hawk so we wouldn't take photos, I guess. Photographs by Alexander Gardner and Timothy O'Sulllivan captured the essence of the Civil War. Many of the pictures included people in uniform, but there were also images of people's houses and their "starvation" parties, in which people came to play games and "hang out" but knew not to expect snacks or food because the hosts had no money. We saw permanent exhibitions such as mobile field offices with pull-down desks (I thought they were clever) as well as food, cannons, surgical supplies, and pictures of doctors in front of triage. Photos also document buildings that were converted for military use, and several still stand today. Good information, but a one-visit deal only.

A very cool museum! Me and a group of ait students had to go here I thought they had a great…read moresection of exhibits dating way from to the beginning and all the wars inbetween

What an incredible museum experience. It's solely run by Mr. Richard Stewart whose family has lived…read morethere for 12-13 generations. He's in his late 70s and I highly recommend making an appointment. If you arrive and it's closed, ask anyone you see on the island where he might be. He told us his personal stories and stories that had been told to him about living in the oldest existing free black community. The community started with a mixed population of freed and enslaved black people. His amazing stories and pieces told its complicated history and let us know what was validated and/ what was told. Mr. Stewart said people came and more often they didn't want to listen they just wanted to talk. He said that at the end of our tour and I am so darn glad we listened.

Very interesting little house museum. This one is a little off the beaten path, but it's worth it…read moreif you really love Black history. The guide was super knowledgeable and also very nice. He was an older African-American man in his 70s and I loved getting his perspective on life and talking with him about some of his experiences growing up in the area. He really took time to explain things to me and help me to understand how life was back then. The house has a fairly large collection of historical memorabilia and black history artifacts. The owner was even nice enough to take me on a tour of the island so that I could take notes. If you really love Black history and you're looking for a local history deep-dive that's off the beaten path then you'll love this place. Just be nice, be friendly, and get the guide/owner talking. I ended up coming back a second time to do a report for my college history course and learned so much. The owner was nice enough to even take me on a tour of the island so that I could take notes. Many of the buildings on the island are badly in need of repair. But if you use your imagination and look at the pictures provided, you can get an idea of what things used to be like. If you're the type of person who looks at old items laying around and says "Ewww look at all this junk"...then this place may not be for you. But if you're like me and you think to yourself "Hmmm... each one of these items has a story to tell... I wonder what it was like to live here way back then"... then this is definitely the place for you. It's not some highly curated pristine museum space where everything has a neat little plaque or label. It's more like an antique shop and artifact warehouse where the guide helps you understand the lives and times of the people who once called the island and area their home. After all, Pocahontas Island was part of the Underground Railroad and was one of the first areas in Virginia where free People of Color were permitted to live in peace. If you value the history behind that and already cherish that sense of community before you show up, you'll have no problem filling in the gaps. Just get him talking and you'll love it. NOTE: It's a good idea to call first and plan your visit in advance. The museum is family owned, so it's not staffed 24/7. But if they know you're coming, they'll be more than happy to make it worth the trip. Museum Founder - Mr. Richard Stewart Main Line: 804-861-8889 Cell: 804-426-5306 Email: info@pocahontasislandmuseum.com Here's an article on the museum with more detailed information: https://www.dailypress.com/life/dp-dt_petersburgjan12-story.html

Wow! What an incredible tour. Our guide was funny, relatable, and made history so easy and fun to…read morelearn. She kept our attention the whole time and welcomed any questions. She was SO knowledgeable!!!!! I highly recommend going here.

What a lovely off the beaten track, manor home, so glad we stopped by!…read moreBuilt in 1789, the home is well cared for and thankfully, not modernized. Original heart of pine floors with string and tar, built in the shop builders style. A wonderful staircase with a beautiful hand worked banister rail. Furnishings, while not original to the home, are of the period, and everything was well maintained and preserved. The view to the river from the home leaves you without question as to why the location was picked all those years ago. Our guide Laurie(Lori?) was sweet, kind, patient and clearly liked her job. Always a perk, finding someone who enjoys what they do! She told us that Briana would be able to answer even more of my questions, as she was extremely well versed in the Manor. We shall have to return! The best $8 you'll spend. Don't miss the basement.

We so enjoyed our visit to the Visitor's Center. Both staff members were great fun. Nona was…read moreknowledgable, witty, and had lots of valuable information about the history of the area. We took a walk inside the building to view Confederate money, an old vault for the bank, and a printing press. What we took away form the experience was a deep appreciation for learning more about the surrounding area. We talked about local breweries, museums, and fun destinations throughout Petersburg and Richmond. This is a good destination for newbies, but be aware that there is another sign for a Visitor's center which isn't at the current address. The physical address you want is 19 Bollingbrook St.

If you like historical places you will love violet bank and I can't say enough about the niceness…read moreof the staff. Great place to visit!