Richmond

Bisected by the James River, and the capital of the state of Virginia, Richmond has many historical sights and attractions remaining from its turbulent past. The city dates from 1607. The Richmond Visitors’ Center on North 3rd Street, is a good place to start your tour and they have a range of brochures and offer reservation services for Richmond’s main attractions and interesting excursions. Be sure to do the scenic Canal Walk along the Richmond waterfront, where brass plaques interpret historical information along the way.

Attractions
The 200-year-old Virginia State Capitol building, a palatial late 18th-century building, is one of the city’s great landmarks, and from the City Hall Observation Deck you’ll get panoramic views of Richmond’s skyline.
There are many gardens and parks, including the stunning Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Capitol Square Park, James River Park, and the poignant Richmond National Battlefield Park.

The Valentine Museum and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, with its collection of world-class paintings, has one of the most extensive fine arts collections in the south. Richmond’s oldest house has the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, featuring memorabilia of this famous writer.

Nearby Williamsburg, the former colonial capital, has cobbled streets and with beautifully restored buildings, while the charming town of Fredericksburg, midway between Richmond and Washington DC, has he Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, a 5,500-acre memorial park commemorating Civil War battles.