Richmond is a preferred destination for visitors to Virginia. From colonial times to the Civil War, Richmond was at the center of events in America. Colonial Williamsburg was one of America's first settlements, and its history and traditions resonate with those of Richmond. Richmond was the capital of the confederacy, and it has retained many of the historical aspects of traditional Southern culture. Richmond is not only the capital of Virginia, but its proximity to Jamestown, Yorktown, and other significant areas of early settlement, make it an historical hub of sorts for the entire country.
History enthusiasts of all ages will appreciate Richmond's museums and carefully preserved architectural treasures. Jamestown, founded in 1607, is nearby. The Revolutionary War ended more than 200 years ago at Yorktown, also a neighbor of Richmond. Richmond itself served as the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War, and its museums dedicated to the war and the Confederacy are among the best in the nation. Richmond's Court End District contains seven National Historic Landmarks, three museums, and 11 more buildings on the National Register of Historic Places - all within eight blocks.
The Virginia countryside is particularly beautiful in the vicinity of Richmond, which straddles the Tidewater and Piedmont regions. This inspiring mountain landscape can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Each season seems to bring it to the peak of perfection.
Richmond is only 100 miles from Washington, D.C., giving visitors access to all that the nation's Capitol has to offer. With its genteel Southern grace and charm, it is always a pleasure to spend time in Richmond: a center of culture and education.
John Marshall House 9th and Marshall Sts. 804-648-7998 Built in 1790, this house was the home of the famous Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Marshall. Today, it is one of the Court End district museums.
Museum and White House of the Confederacy 1201 E. Clay St. 804-649-1861 This house is a part of the Court End historical district. It was the official residence of Confederate president Jefferson Davis; a newer building next door houses some interesting Confederate relics.
Virginia State Capitol Capitol Sq. 804-698-1788 Designed by Thomas Jefferson in 1785, the Capitol contains some notable sculptures including busts of the eight Virginia-born U.S. presidents and a life-size statue of George Washington.
Canal Walk Begins at 12th and Main streets This district follows the locks of the James River - Kanawha Canal that was originally proposed by George Washington. History comes alive along the walk as strollers will encounter some wonderful sculptures and an outdoor concert center.
St. John's Episcopal Church 2401 E. Broad St. 804-648-5015 This colonial church has witnessed a great deal of history. It was here on March 23, 1775, that Patrick Henry exclaimed: "Give me liberty or give me death!"
Richmond National Battlefield Park 3215 E. Broad St. 804-226-1981 The Visitors' Center at the park offers an informative movie and slide show about the site's three battles. This park has items of interest for all ages.
Science Museum of Virginia 2500 W. Broad St. 804-367-6552 This museum is housed in a massive, domed, former train station. The planetarium, with its huge curved screen, doubles as a movie theater. Children and adults will find themselves engaged by exhibits on a variety of scientific themes.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts The Boulevard and Grove Ave. 804-367-0844 This world-class museum has collections that include paintings by Goya, Renoir, Monet, and van Gogh, as well as featured displays of African masks, Roman statuaries, Asian icons, and Fabergé eggs.
Agecroft Hall 4305 Sulgrave Rd. 804-353-4241 In 1925, an imported 15th-century English house was rebuilt here in Richmond and surrounded by formal gardens. The house includes Tudor and early Stuart art and furniture.
Paramount's Kings Dominion I-95 Doswell exit 98 804-876-5000 With over 100 rides, this theme park has something for everyone. Rides include simulated white-water rafting and seven roller coasters.
Colonial Williamsburg I-64 Exit 238 757-220-7645 This incredible landmark is a convincing re-creation of the city that was the capital of Virginia from 1699 until 1780. On Colonial Williamsburg's 173 acres, 88 original 18th- and early 19th-century structures, such as the courthouse, have been meticulously restored. Another fifty buildings, including the capitol and the governor's palace, were reconstructed on their original sites. More than 225 period rooms have been furnished with over 100,000 items.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg East of Williamsburg on U.S. 60 757-253-3350 This theme park features a European theme with world cuisine and nine different recreated hamlets. The rides include some highly-rated roller coasters.
Jamestown Island Colonial Pkwy. 757-229-1733 Jamestown was the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America founded in 1607. A five-mile nature trail is dotted with historic markers; tours of the area that detail its historic importance are offered.
Jamestown Settlement Rte. 31 off Colonial Pkwy. 757-229-1607 This "living-history" museum features a reconstructed fort staffed by guides dressed as colonists, and an "Indian Village" inhabited by buckskin-clad interpreters. The pier includes replicas of the ships that carried the settlers to the New World.
Yorktown Battlefield Colonial Pkwy. 757-898-3400 The museum here at the site of the last battle of the Revolutionary War displays George Washington's original field tent. Dioramas, illuminated maps and a short movie tell the story.
Yorktown Victory Center Rte. 238 off Colonial Pkwy. 757-887-1776 The center features a Continental Army encampment with tents, a covered wagon, and costumed interpreters who speak to visitors in the regional dialects of the time. Also on site are a small working tobacco farm and a museum focusing on the lives of ordinary people during the Revolution.
Shirley Plantation Rte. 608 804-829-5121 This is the oldest plantation in Virginia and has belonged to the same Carter family for ten generations. Built in 1723, the house is filled with family silver, ancestral portraits and rare books.
Berkeley Plantation Rte. 5 804-829-6018 This 1726 Georgian brick house has been restored and furnished with period antiques, and its boxwood gardens are well tended. In addition to a restaurant, there are outdoor tables for picnickers.
Westover Plantation Rte. 5 804-829-2882 Built in 1735, this plantation house features famous moldings and carvings. The grounds and gardens are also well known in the region.
Sherwood Forest Rte. 5 804-829-5377 Built in 1720, this house was the retirement home of U.S. President John Tyler. The house is furnished with heirloom antiques, and the five outbuildings are open daily.
Early January: Joy From the World. Cultural holiday exhibits, art, storytelling, musical performances and planetarium shows from more than 25 cultures. Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. For information, call 804-864-1400, or toll-free 800-659-1727.
January
: Flood Wall Tour. The Old Dominion Railway Museum sponsors guided walking tours of historic sites along the flood wall of the James River's south bank. Old Dominion Railway Museum, 102 Hull St. For information, call 804-233-6237 or 804-231-4324.
March,
Early March: Basketball Championship. Championship tournament of the CAA Division I college basketball league. Richmond Coliseum, 601 E. Leigh St. For information, call 804-780-4956. For tickets, call 804-780-4970, or Ticketmaster at 804-262-8100.
Mid March: St. Patrick's Day Parade. This annual parade, usually held on the Saturday preceding or following the actual holiday, goes along West Broad Street from Horsepen Road to Willow Lawn Drive. For information, call toll-free 888-742-4666.
Easter on Parade. On historic Monument Avenue, this spring festival and parade offers live music, clowns, jugglers, crafts and food. For information, call 804-788-6466.
April
Mid-Late April: Historic Garden Week. Several historic plantation homes open their doors to the public during the oldest and largest statewide house-and-garden-tour event in the U.S. Features home and garden tours, afternoon teas and progressive lunches and dinners. For information, call 804-644-7776.
Late April: Richmond Civil War Day
. Living-history demonstrations, drills and exhibits recall the life of Civil War soldiers in this commemoration of the 1864 Overland Campaign. Also artillery and rifle-firing demonstrations, walking tours to Belle Isle, civilian re-enactors, children's activities and period music. Tredegar Iron Works and Richmond National Battlefield Park, 3215 E. Broad St. For information, call 804-226-1981 or 804-771-2145.
July,
Early-Mid July: Summer City Fest. This free music festival, formerly the Big Gig, features more than 50 jazz, blues, rock and pop concerts on Brown's Island and various other venues. Organ recitals and classical-music concerts at Centenary United Methodist Church, 411 E. Grace St. For information, call 804-788-6466.
Mid-Late July: Richmond Shakespeare Festival. Annual festival with performances in the outdoor amphitheater of a Tudor-style mansion. Special performance on 30 August. Wednesday-Sunday evenings. Agecroft Hall, 4305 Sulgrave Road. For information and tickets, call 804-232-4000. Continues through early August
3, 4 July: Richmond Braves 4th of July Extravaganza. Two nights of Independence Day celebrations, consisting of a Richmond Braves game at 7 pm, followed by a fireworks display. The Diamond, 3001 North Boulevard. For tickets, call 804-359-4444, or toll-free 800-849-4627.
August
Early August: Richmond Shakespeare Festival
. Annual festival with performances in the outdoor amphitheater of a Tudor-style mansion. Special performance on 30 August. Wednesday-Sunday evenings. Agecroft Hall, 4305 Sulgrave Road. For information and tickets, call 804-232-4000.
(Weekends) August: Free outdoor screenings of family-oriented films, music and children's games on Brown's Island. For information, call 804-788-6466.
August: Friday Cheers. Free Friday evening outdoor concerts by some of the region's top talent on Brown's Island. For information, call 804-788-6466.
September
Early September: Minor-League Baseball. The Richmond Braves, an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, play regular-season home games at The Diamond, 3001 North Boulevard. For information and tickets, call 804-359-4444, or toll-free 800-849-4627.
End September: Virginia State Fair. Exhibits, livestock shows, handicrafts, rock and pop music concerts, food and wine competitions and more. Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E. Laburnum Ave. For information and tickets, call 804-569-3200, or toll-free 800-588-3247.
Late September: River City Beer and Seafood Festival. More than 40 different varieties of microbrewed, handcrafted and imported beers, seafood booths and live entertainment. Brown's Island. For information, call 804-788-6466.
October
Early October: Arts Around the Lake. This juried arts show offers works by nearly 100 local artists on display and for sale. Westhampton Lake, University of Richmond campus. Sponsored by the Greater Richmond Alumni Chapter. For more information, call 804-289-8026.
December
Throughout December: Joy From the World. Cultural holiday exhibits, art, storytelling, musical performances and planetarium shows from more than 25 cultures. Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. For information, call 804-864-1400, or toll-free 800-659-1727. Continues through early January
Eastern Standard Time. Daylight saving time is observed from late April-late October. When it is noon in New York City, it is also noon in Richmond.
Elevation:
190 feet
Average Temperatures:
Month
High
Low
January
49F
34F
February
50F
34F
March
58F
40F
April
66F
48F
May
76F
58F
June
83F
66F
July
87F
71F
August
85F
70F
September
80F
65F
October
70F
55F
November
60F
45F
December
60F
45F
Local Seasons: Richmond and the Central Virginia area provide the full four
season spectrum of weather, with the spring garden season among the most
beautiful in the world.
Day trips from Richmond include Washington, DC (90 miles north),
Colonial Williamsburg (50 miles east), Virginia Beach (90 miles east)
and Charlottesville and the Blue Ridge Mountains (50 miles west).
National Holidays:
New Year's Day Jan. 1
Lee, Jackson, and King Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.
President's Day 3rd Mon. in Feb.
Memorial Day last Mon. in May
Independence Day July 4
Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept.
Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25
New Year's Eve Dec. 31
Emergency
: 911
Time and Temperature
: (804) 732-2121
Arriving:
By Air
The Richmond International Airport off I-64, Exit 197A, is served by all major domestic airlines. Limousine service and taxis are available between the airport and the greater Richmond area.
Rental Cars are available at the airport.
Rail Service
Amtrak Station is at 7519 Staples Mills Road
1-800-872-7245
Buses
Greyhound Terminal is at 2910 N. Boulevard Street
(804) 254-5938
Public Transportation
The Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) operates buses throughout
most of the city and surrounding areas.
By Car
The city is readily accessible by major airlines and train, and is minutes away from major north/south and east/west interstate highways.
Museum and White House of the Confederacy 1201 E. Clay St. 804-649-1861 This house is a part of the Court End historical district. It was the official residence of Confederate president Jefferson Davis; a newer building next door houses some interesting Confederate relics.
Virginia State Capitol Capitol Sq. 804-698-1788 Designed by Thomas Jefferson in 1785, the Capitol contains some notable sculptures including busts of the eight Virginia-born U.S. presidents and a life-size statue of George Washington.
Canal Walk Begins at 12th and Main streets This district follows the locks of the James River - Kanawha Canal that was originally proposed by George Washington. History comes alive along the walk as strollers will encounter some wonderful sculptures and an outdoor concert center.
Richmond National Battlefield Park 3215 E. Broad St. 804-226-1981 The Visitors' Center at the park offers an informative movie and slide show about the site's three battles. This park has items of interest for all ages.
Science Museum of Virginia 2500 W. Broad St. 804-367-6552 This museum is housed in a massive, domed, former train station. The planetarium, with its huge curved screen, doubles as a movie theater. Children and adults will find themselves engaged by exhibits on a variety of scientific themes.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts The Boulevard and Grove Ave. 804-367-0844 This world-class museum has collections that include paintings by Goya, Renoir, Monet, and van Gogh, as well as featured displays of African masks, Roman statuaries, Asian icons, and Fabergé eggs.
Paramount's Kings Dominion I-95 Doswell exit 98 804-876-5000 With over 100 rides, this theme park has something for everyone. Rides include simulated white-water rafting and seven roller coasters.
Colonial Williamsburg I-64 Exit 238 757-220-7645 This incredible landmark is a convincing re-creation of the city that was the capital of Virginia from 1699 until 1780. On Colonial Williamsburg's 173 acres, 88 original 18th- and early 19th-century structures, such as the courthouse, have been meticulously restored. Another fifty buildings, including the capitol and the governor's palace, were reconstructed on their original sites. More than 225 period rooms have been furnished with over 100,000 items.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg East of Williamsburg on U.S. 60 757-253-3350 This theme park features a European theme with world cuisine and nine different recreated hamlets. The rides include some highly-rated roller coasters.
Jamestown Island Colonial Pkwy. 757-229-1733 Jamestown was the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America founded in 1607. A five-mile nature trail is dotted with historic markers; tours of the area that detail its historic importance are offered.
Jamestown Settlement Rte. 31 off Colonial Pkwy. 757-229-1607 This "living-history" museum features a reconstructed fort staffed by guides dressed as colonists, and an "Indian Village" inhabited by buckskin-clad interpreters. The pier includes replicas of the ships that carried the settlers to the New World.
Yorktown Battlefield Colonial Pkwy. 757-898-3400 The museum here at the site of the last battle of the Revolutionary War displays George Washington's original field tent. Dioramas, illuminated maps and a short movie tell the story.
Yorktown Victory Center Rte. 238 off Colonial Pkwy. 757-887-1776 The center features a Continental Army encampment with tents, a covered wagon, and costumed interpreters who speak to visitors in the regional dialects of the time. Also on site are a small working tobacco farm and a museum focusing on the lives of ordinary people during the Revolution.
Berkeley Plantation Rte. 5 804-829-6018 This 1726 Georgian brick house has been restored and furnished with period antiques, and its boxwood gardens are well tended. In addition to a restaurant, there are outdoor tables for picnickers.
