Went on the Historic African American Tour of Petersburg for our class reunion. The tour was very…read moreinformative.

From the owner: Historic Petersburg Foundation is a non profit preservation organization in Petersburg, Virginia…read morewith the mission to lead the preservation and restoration of Petersburg, Virginia's historic architecture, and neighborhoods and to tell their story. We own and market historic properties for sale that need to be restored. One of our popular fundraisers each December is the annual Christmas Homes Tour of beautifully restored historic homes decorated for the holidays. We hold programs on Petersburg's history and architecture. Peter Jones Trading Station - "Where Commerce Began" tourist attraction. We encourage tourism to Petersburg and work to save the 18th and 19th century architecture in Petersburg, Virginia.

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

Michelle is AWESOME! She was so full of locale information and its surrounding history. The ghost…read morechats were spooky! She gave us a really nice tour of the area and told us so much about its colonial, Civil War and even a bit of modern era! Oh, and she is a WONDERFUL and energetic person! I HIGHLY recommend taking a tour! :) -Shawn & Sam

I wanna give 5 stars, only thing I hated about my tour was there was a couple kids under the age of…read more10 In it and they were just everywhere the parents weren't being parents. Tyler was our tour guide highly recommend him! He was knowledgeable and you can tell he loved Petersburg, the stories were cool and they were real I did EMS in the city and have heard those stories before. So if your history nerd I recommend.

Located in the Old Town of Petersburg and not far from the Appomatox River, this marker points out…read moresome of the earliest explorations of Virginia by the English. Imagine what it must have been like back then - no idea what was over the next mountain or around the next bend in the river. Exciting times! The marker reads, "In 1650 Fort Henry, now Petersburg, marked the western and southern extent of English settlement in, and knowledge of, Virginia. On 27 Aug. 1650, Edward Bland, merchant and land speculator, and Abraham Wood, frontier militia commander, left Fort Henry on the first documented English exploration of Southside Virginia. Pyancha, an Appamattuck guide, led Bland, Wood, and four others through the territory of the Nottoway, Meherrin, and Hocomawanck Indians for nine days. They probably reached the falls of the Roanoke River near Weldon, N.C., before returning to Fort Henry. This was the first of a series of explorations that departed from Fort Henry under Abraham Wood's auspices." It was erected in 2003 by the Department of Historic Resources and is marker number S-76. There is some street parking nearby. [Review 20301 overall - 1435 in Virginia - 1278 of 2023.]

I visited the eastern front of the Petersburg National Battlefield last month while traveling back…read morefrom a Toyota dealership in the area. The battlefield has several sites in the Petersburg Virginia area including a western front, union and confederate forces encampment sites, remains of makeshift forts, storage depots and landing sites. The battlefield as a whole encompasses many miles in a circular pattern and you can either do a guided or self guided tour. It is well marked and mapped. The site as a whole was the longest siege of the American Civil War. Union forces began the siege in 1864 and it lasted nine months with many battles that resulted in victories for both sides. Petersburg VA at the time was a major hub for Robert E Lee's army with extensive rail lines and supply depots. It was also pivotal in the defense of Richmond which was the Confederate capital during the war. The eastern front battlefield is well preserved and also serves as a park which is managed by the National Park Service. There are walking and hiking trails as well as bike lanes. There is parking at each of the eight sites on the eastern front. Each site is well maintained and marked and it is quite educational. You could spend a few hours here exploring. Just a note, bring bug spray with tick repellent. Several of the sites I had to swipe a tick off my legs. It was a bit wet and it was very humid so the bugs were out in force. Overall it was a great experience. On the next visit I'll check out the western front which is roughly eight miles away on the other side of town.

Often overlooked but a hidden gem national park…read more Our national parks and battlefields are some treasured areas. This park is often in the shadow of others, but had long and bloody trench warfare. The history and earthworks are simply incredible! Definitely read about it and look up closure times before coming. (8pm during the summer and sunset/sunrise throughout the year) 33-odd miles of trails, good to recreate and the tour road is perfect for cycling/running.

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

Highly recommend BWT! Everything about our Yorktown Tour experience was exceptional. Booking was…read moresimple, logistical communications were prompt and clear. Bambi picked us up at Williamsburg Inn, asked about our preferences and then filled the day with interesting historical references and stories. She used a voice amplifier to ensure all passengers could hear clearly along the route and offered us snacks and drinks. Bambi was very knowledgeable about all topics and complimentary of the interpreters from the sites we visited. She provided detail accounts on all aspects of the time from land formation, battles, troop movements and daily life. Her passion, breadth and depth of knowledge made for a very educational and enjoyable day. We highly recommend BWT!

From the owner: Best Williamsburg Tours brings past and present Virginia history to life through walking, driving…read moreand kayaking tours. Travel back in time to walk in the footsteps of American Indians and Colonists at Jamestown, raise our voices for liberty in Colonial Williamsburg and march into Historic Yorktown during the Revolutionary War. We offer private and group tours as well as step on and step off services for large groups. Our local, certified guides are in the top 2% and have our CUA permit for tours of Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield.