| Touring Virginia's capital is a rare treat. Richmond, the | | | | Richmond National Battlefield Park's Visitor Center is |
| state's fifth largest city, is a true gem. It has ties to the | | | | also housed at Tredegar. Eighteen National Historic |
| Revolutionary War, and was also a Confederate | | | | Sites nearby include forts, fields, a naval battle site, old |
| capital. The city retains an Old South atmosphere in a | | | | earthworks, and a prison camp. There is also a visitor |
| modern center of business and finance. | | | | center at Chimborazo, the south's largest military |
| The perfect place to start your visit is St. John's | | | | hospital. |
| Church. This National Historic Landmark was built in | | | | Canal Walk is a bit more than a mile stroll from |
| 1741. As the first church in Richmond, it is one of the | | | | Tredegar to historic Shockoe Slip. George Washington |
| oldest wooden buildings in the state. Patrick Henry | | | | proposed the canals to circumvent the James River |
| gave his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" | | | | rapids. Maps, signs and bronze markers explain the |
| speech here in 1775. Notable Virginians are buried in | | | | history as you walk. A pedestrian bridge not far from |
| nearby Hollywood Cemetery. | | | | Tredegar crosses to Belle Isle, a rocky island. During |
| Confederate President, Jefferson Davis and his family | | | | the Civil War, Belle Isle was a military prison. Equipped |
| lived in the Southern White House (c. 1818). The | | | | to handle 3,000, there were as many as 10,000 |
| columned mansion is newly refurbished; eleven rooms | | | | prisoners in 1863. |
| are open to the public. It is the premier artifact of the | | | | Shockoe Slip in Old Richmond is a blend of cafes, |
| Confederacy and a National Historic Landmark. It is | | | | microbreweries, galleries, shops and one of the oldest |
| also much like Mt. Vernon for authenticity. | | | | farmer's markets in the country. Local fairs have been |
| The adjacent Museum of the Confederacy boasts | | | | held here since the 1740's. Shop the open-air market |
| more artifacts, photos and documents from the | | | | Thursday through Sunday mornings. |
| Confederacy than any other site. Three floors display | | | | A favorite with locals and tourists is The Tobacco |
| weapons, uniforms, 550 regimental flags, and the | | | | Company, a first-class restaurant in an old tobacco |
| personal effects of soldiers and their families. One of | | | | warehouse. TTC is an elegant Victorian experience: |
| the most treasured items is Robert E. Lee's sword. | | | | three floors with a vintage elevator, white linens, and a |
| Virginia's General Assembly is the oldest legislative | | | | 1920's cigarette girl. Don't miss it! |
| body in America. The Capitol, located on Capital | | | | Another must-see is Agecroft Hall. An authentic Tudor |
| Square, is the second oldest US state house in | | | | manor, Agecroft was built in England in the 1400's. It |
| continuous use. Thomas Jefferson designed the | | | | was moved to Richmond, stone by stone, in the 1920's. |
| building, one of only 13 state houses without a central | | | | Furnishings date from the late 1500's to mid-1600's. |
| dome. Aaron Burr stood trial for treason in Old Hall. A | | | | (Think Queen Mary and James I.) Twenty-three acres |
| 20-foot statue of Washington on horseback is | | | | of formal gardens and lawns surround the mansion. |
| prominently displayed on the grounds. | | | | Maymont is another stately country mansion. Built in |
| The Governor's Mansion (c. 1811) is the oldest | | | | 1893 during the era of Newport and Biltmore Estate, it |
| continually inhabited executive residence in America. It, | | | | was home to financier, James Dooley and his wife. |
| too, is a National Historic Landmark. Four American | | | | Like the famous Hershey's, Dooley's had no children. |
| presidents lived in the mansion. Thomas Jefferson, | | | | When James' wife, Sallie, died in 1925, the estate was |
| James Monroe & John Tyler were Virginia | | | | willed to the city. Most of the furnishings are original. |
| governors. William Henry Harrison lived there when his | | | | The gardens are exceptional! Maymont is unique |
| father was governor. | | | | because it was unaltered by any subsequent |
| Old City Hall, an 1894 Victorian Gothic building, is nearby. | | | | residents. Also at Maymont is The Robbins Nature and |
| Each corner tower is unique. Within its 3-foot granite | | | | Visitor Center. View the collection of antique carriages. |
| walls, an interior courtyard of painted cast-iron rises | | | | Native Virginia wildlife can be seen at the Nature |
| three stories. | | | | Center. |
| Iron was one of Richmond's early industries. The city's | | | | Tour other historic homes at the Valentine Richmond |
| foundries prospered with the growth of railroads, then | | | | History Center. Wickham House was built in 1812. John |
| made weapons and ammunition for the Confederate | | | | Wickham was Aaron Burr's defense attorney. The |
| Army. The most famous foundry was Tredegar Iron | | | | house is magnificent, with a freestanding spiral |
| Works, built in 1833. Tredegar made the iron plating for | | | | staircase in the entry hall. Also at the Center are Chief |
| the CSS Virginia - the former USS Merrimac. | | | | Justice John Marshall's home (Marshall was the |
| Tredegar is now home to The American Civil War | | | | presiding justice at Burr's trial), the Black History |
| Center, opened in 2006. More than a museum, it's a | | | | Museum, and the Edward Valentine studio, a noted |
| diary of the Civil War told through stories of those | | | | local sculptor. |
| who fought - northern, southern and slaves. The | | | | There is much more to sample in and around |
| Center documents how the war affected the nation | | | | Richmond but we don't have room to tell you more. |
| before, during and after the conflict. An antique steam | | | | Richmond is a small-town city with a lot of appeal for |
| engine, used to transport ore to the foundry, stands | | | | everyone. Enjoy true Southern hospitality in this urban |
| outside. | | | | gem. Y'all come ... |