Historic Richmond

By D. J. Mathews
Special to the Herald Courier
Published: June 28, 2008

Capitol City Is A Showcase Of American History

RICHMOND, Va. – New York may be called the “Big Apple” and known for its Broadway shows. San Francisco may be the city by the bay with its big Chinatown section. But Richmond, Va. is the city rich in political history and the early beginnings of America’s founding.
Visited in 1607 by Capt. Christopher Newport and John Smith, Richmond was established in 1737. William Byrd II named the city after England’s Richmond because it was also situated on a bend in the river.
According to Benji Burrell, a Mountain City, Tenn., resident who grew up there, Richmond became a port in that bend because there “the rapids stop and the river gets deeper and slightly tidal.” 
Adjacent to the north bank of the James River was the Tredegar Iron Works, which Burrell pointed out manufactured most of the artillery used during the Civil War. It is now part of a canal walk, with entrances and historic markers at Seventh, 12th and 14th streets.
Burrell said it is “slowly becoming something of an attraction” in the city, along with canal boat cruises leaving from 14th and Dock streets (adults, $5; children ages 5-12 and seniors are $4).
Three or four blocks away, on East Broad Street, visitors can tour Saint John’s Episcopal Church, where lawyer Patrick Henry gave his famous “give me liberty or give me death” speech in 1775, to persuade the Second Virginia Revolutionary Convention to arm the Virginia militia and join the American revolution. There is a small fee for daily tours of this white church near the city’s center.
Richmond has a surprising variety of faiths represented in the city, from Muslim mosques to Jewish centers to the headquarters for part of the Virginia Catholic Diocese.
It was here that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. It was also here where his neoclassical design for the Capitol building, with the help of French draftsman Charles-Louis Clerisseau, created a grand façade to overlook Capitol Square.
Capitol Square, with its rose bushes bordering antique fountains on the green, is a good place for a family picnic and has statues honoring the likes of Washington, Patrick Henry and even Edgar Allan Poe.
For lovers of famous writers, the Poe Museum is a must-see.
Housed in the Old Stone House, the oldest structure in the city of Richmond, the museum is located close to where Poe grew up and contains many personal belongings, including a satiny white vest probably worn during speaking engagements.
Poe was famous for his horror stories, but there are also books on his mystery and science fiction writing there. Jennifer Bundy of Lebanon, Va. has visited the museum and found it very enjoyable. “I thought the garden [in back] was very beautiful, and the history was really interesting.”
Joe Burrell, Benji Burrell’s father, has lived in the Richmond area his entire 67 years, felt that generally, “Richmond has a lot of Civil War history places to visit,” such as the Museum of the Confederacy on East Clay Street and the Richmond National Battlefield Park on Fifth and Tredegar.
The multi-unit park, pointing out battlefields in surrounding counties outside the city, provides information on the Seven Days’ Battle at Malvern Hill and units on 1864 sites at Cold Harbor, Fort Harrison and Parker’s Battery.
Hollywood Cemetery, unlike its name, is partly dedicated to Civil War soldiers and historical figures.
“They’re famous persons but not movie stars,” Joe Burrell pointed out.
There you can drive narrow roads, or stop and walk around huge monuments to presidents Monroe or Tyler, and the grave of Jefferson Davis also has an angel on a tombstone dedicated to a close relative.
The cemetery overlooks the scenic James River and so fascinated Joe Burrell “they closed the gate on me,” he said. Fortunately, he found an employee at this free attraction to help him get out.
A big part of Richmond’s heritage is also its African American history. Many slaves were brought to America through Richmond, and some achieved great things despite humble beginnings. Joe Burrell felt visitors should see the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Museum on 110 E. Lehigh St. Walker, a former slave, was an entrepreneur who started a newspaper and bank, among other ventures. She founded the Consolidated Bank & Trust,  the oldest surviving black operated bank in the United States.
Tours of her home are free, as are walks around the Slavery Trade Reconciliation Statue, on 15th and East Main streets.
The city has many restaurants, museums and interesting architecture, the latter Italianate style buildings around Cary and 12th and 14th streets, that the family can walk around and enjoy.
There is a Jamestown Settlement demonstration on Route 31, and Kings Dominion amusement park down the road. Overall, Richmond offers a great deal for tourist and history buffs alike to explore.

IF YOU GO
Directions: Take I-81 north to Staunton, Va., then Rt. 64 East to Richmond

GENERAL INFORMATION
Richmond Metro Convention and Visitors’ Bureau: (804) 646-7000
Richmond Parks and Recreation: (804) 646-5733 or http://www.visit.richmond.com

TOURS
Virginia Film Tours: (804) 744- 1718
Canal Boat Tours: At 14th and Dock street
Science Museum of Virginia: (800) 656-1727
The Poe Museum: (888) 21E-APOE

LODGING
Travelodge: 5221 Brook Road, from $65, (877) 477-5817

EATERIES
The Strawberry Street Café: 421 Strawberry St., (804) 353-6860
Spinnaker’s Restaurant: (804) 794-0045

SURROUNDING RICHMOND
Jamestown Settlement: Route 31 South, admission is adults, $13.50; kids, $6.25; (888) 593-4682

D. J. MATHEWS is a freelance writer. Contact her at .