American history and culture in Richmond, Virginia is everywhere. Particularly, colonial and Civil War history due to Richmond’s past as the capital of the Confederacy. It’s also rich in Black American history as 1 in 4 Black people in the U.S. have roots there. In June 2020, Richmond made headlines when, during the unrest surrounding police killings of Black people around the country, protestors tore down the Christopher Columbus monument and threw it in Fountain Lake as part of a wider reckoning with the country’s history.
Aside from history and culture in Richmond, Virginia, it’s also full of art that makes it an interesting place easily explored in a few days. I drove the three hours down to Richmond from Baltimore and enjoyed my short, but full two-day stay. Read on to see what Richmond has to offer.
Where To Stay
I stayed at the Berkeley Hotel, located in the historic Shockoe Slip neighborhood. I thought this was a great location because it was walking distance or very close to restaurants, shops, and attractions like the James River Canal Walk and many of the sites I describe in this blog post. The cobblestone streets and old buildings were charming and I had no complaints about the hotel itself either.
Where To Explore
American Civil War Museum
My first stop was the American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar, which is walking distance to both Belle Isle and the Canal Walk. The museum is surrounded by the industrial ruins of Tredegar Ironworks, founded in 1837, and a site that supplied about half of the artillery for the Confederate Army. As I walked through the exhibits, I paid attention to how the museum told history. From what I saw, it’s an accurate and comprehensive retelling that doesn’t whitewash or erase certain parts of history. Adult tickets are $16 and lot parking is free with museum admission.
Belle Isle
Next, I walked along the James River to the pedestrian bridge on Tredegar Street that takes you to Belle Isle. There is also a free parking lot close to the pedestrian bridge and another bridge on the south side of the island. From the Tredegar Street pedestrian bridge, you get a nice view of the Richmond skyline.
Once you get to the island, there are walking/bike paths with historical ruins dotted along the island. They include an old hydroelectric plant that operated between 1904-1963, which is now covered in colorful graffiti inside. (I chose not to go inside since I was alone and didn’t want to get murdered, though it would have made for some great photos.)
During the Civil War, Belle Isle served as a prisoner of war camp for about 30,000 Union soldiers. Those who survived had all kinds of diseases caused by starvation, neglect, and exposure.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
If it’s up to me, I don’t like to spend a lot of time in museums because I prefer to read sitting down and they’re not always as interesting as I’d like. But the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is one of the museums that kept my interest and I actually ended up spending a good amount of time there, making sure I covered all the exhibits.
I was especially interested in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco exhibits because I love those design styles and the Fabergé egg exhibit because who doesn’t love pretty, opulent, useless things. I was also pleased to see that the museum covered a diverse range of cultures, not only focusing on white Western art. It includes Pre-Columbian, African, Native American, East Asian, South Asian, ancient Egyptian, and African-American art, among others.
It also features an outdoor sculpture garden and Kehinde Wiley’s Rumors of War statue that sits on the front lawn as a permanent installation. Rumors of War, which features a young Black man riding a horse, is Wiley’s direct response to the many Confederate monuments that line Monument Avenue. Admission is free.
Fan District & Murals
As I was driving to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, I passed through the Fan District. Seeing all the interesting murals and colorful buildings along Main Street, I set aside time to walk through the neighborhood. The Fan District is named after its fan shape and features eclectic shops, cafes, residences, and the beautiful Altria Theater. It centers around the Virginia Commonwealth University campus and is great for architecture lovers as it contains Queen Anne-style homes, Tudor Revival mansions, Italianate styles, and more. Follow me on Instagram to watch my Instagram Reel showing even more Fan District murals.
Edgar Allan Poe Museum
Another possible stop is the Edgar Allan Poe Museum. Richmond is Poe’s hometown so the Poe Museum has a comprehensive collection of artifacts including furniture, clothing, original poems, and even a lock of his hair (creepy). Adult admission is $9 with discounts for youth, seniors, museum members, active military, and veterans.
Where To Eat and Drink
Blue Bee Cider
I was excited to check out Blue Bee Cider, Richmond’s first urban cidery. Blue Bee Cider has indoor and covered outdoor seating, but only outdoor seating is open currently. I got a flight of five ciders for $15 and they also offer one-hour public or private tours and tastings. As far as food, they offer a cheese and charcuterie counter from Truckle Cheesemongers. If you want something else to eat though, I definitely recommend Blue Bee Cider for a before or after-dinner drink.
Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe is across the street from the Berkeley Hotel, so I stopped in for lunch. It’s a cute cafe that uses seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. I wasn’t crazy about my Candied Walnut Gorgonzola Salad and chai latte, but I’d still stop in again and try something else if I was nearby.
Croaker’s Spot
Croaker’s Spot is a local staple. It offers seafood-focused soul food and the biggest slices of cornbread I’ve ever been given. This restaurant has an interesting history that you can read online and has multiple locations. I definitely recommend visiting Croaker’s Spot, which is offering dine-in and take-out, for a piece of Richmond Black history.
Have you or would you like to visit to experience American history and culture in Richmond, Virginia? Let me know in the comments below.
And while you’re at it, check out the YouTube video that goes with this blog post!
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