About Richmond VA
Richmond is the capital city of the state of Virginia. It is also the principal city in both the Richmond Metropolitan area and the Greater Richmond Metropolitan region. Richmond was incorporated as a city in the later 18th century, and has been an independent city ever since the year 1871. It is situated at the fall line of the James River around 44 miles from the western direction of the City of Williamsburg and about 100 miles on the eastern side of the City of Lynchburg. The future site of this Virginia city was previously a key village for the Powhatan Confederacy, and was shortly settled by English colonists hailing from Jamestown. The present City of Richmond was first established in 1737, and it became the capital of the state of Virginia in 1780. It was named in honor of the English town that bears the same name, and is situated close to the City of London. This was brought about by the similar striking views of the James River and the River Thames.
In the late 18th century, Patrick Henry made his iconic ‘Giver Liberty or Give Me Death’ speech that set the ball rolling for the American Revolutionary War, in St. John’s Church in Richmond. In 1780, the state capital was relocated here from the colonial capital of Williamsburg. This move was made to provide a more centralized location for the state government, and also to isolate it from impending British attacks. The latter factor proved to be flawed as the British troops invaded and burned the City of Richmond in 1781. This event caused the then governor of the state; Thomas Jefferson to flee from the city.
After the American War of Independence came to an end, Richmond evolved into a key industrial hub in the country. George Washington assisted in the designing of the James River – Kanawha River Canal to bypass the city’s rapids on the upper James River. The main objective of this colossal venture was to provide a water route across the Appalachian Mountains to the Kanawha River and ultimately to the Mississippi River. At this epoch of time the City of Richmond became home to some of the biggest manufacturing plants in the nation. This included iron works, flour mills to name but a few.
Request a Free Estimate
Deck Builders Richmond VA Pros
Top attractions
A good number of the City of Richmond’s big general museums are situated in close proximity to the Boulevard. While yet others are located in the Boulevard itself. Some of the most prominent of which include the Virginia Historical Society and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Richmond is as well home to the Science Museum of Virginia that is housed in the neoclassical Broad Street Union Station. There is also the Children’s Museum of Richmond, the Virginia Center for Architecture, the Valentine Richmond History Center and the Old Dominion Railway Museum.
The City of Richmond as well boasts of a wide variety of museums and battlefields of the United States Civil War. This includes the Richmond National Battlefield Park and the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar. There is also the Museum of the Confederacy and the Davis Mansion. The last of which served as the White House for the Confederates.
The City of Richmond is home to a very vibrant performing arts scene too. First of all, there is the Virginia Repertory Theatre, which has the distinction of been the biggest professional theatre company in the state of Virginia. With a yearly budget of $5 million, the Virginia Repertory Theatre employs more than 240 artists on an annual basis. It stages its theatrical productions at the November Theater, the Theatre Gym, the Hanover Tavern and the Children’s Theatre. The historic November Theater, in particular, was first established at the turn of the 20th century, but was damaged by an inferno in 1927. it was eventually reopened in 1933, and was used as a leading African American movie house during the segregation era.
The City of Richmond is as well home to the Richmond Ballet that was established in 1957. Not to mention the Richmond Symphony, the Virginia Opera and the Richmond Triangle Players. The Virginia Opera, in particular, has the distinction of being the official opera company of the state of Virginia and was established in 1974. This Richmond opera company showcases a grand total of 8 main stage performances at the Carpenter Theater on a yearly basis.
Canal Walk
George Washington is credited with convincing the Virginia General Assembly to construct a canal and roads, which would link the east coast to the country’s western markets. The ultimate result was the James River – Kanawha River Canal that spans 1.25 miles. Today, Richmond’s Canal Walk is characterized by paved promenades, which come complete with diverse historic sights, statues and markers. All of which narrate the City of Richmond’s 4 century history. Along the Canal Walk is to be found Brown’s Island that is a very popular Richmond venue for outdoor music concerts. Brown’s Island also hosts the yearly Richmond Folk Festival. There is as well the American Civil War Center, which is situated at the previous Tredegar ironworks facility. Yet another attraction of Richmond’s Canal Walk is the canal cruise that lets tourist take a 40 minute tour of the area from the waters.
White House of the Confederacy
This is a leading City of Richmond attraction that has been tastefully restored to its former glory. The White House of the Confederacy served as the official residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the course of the American Civil War. it is furnished in a period specific manner. This includes rococo revival furniture, fine carpets, flocked wallpaper to mention but a few. Along with the building next to it, the White House of the Confederacy now serves as a museum dedicated to the Confederacy. As such, it now puts to show a wide range of curious artifacts, which date back to the Civil War era. Some of the most prominent of which include battle flags, firearms and photos. Both its permanent and rotating exhibits are now used to narrate the personal histories of some of the notable military figures of the Civil War. This includes Robert Lee, Stonewall Jackson and J. E . B Stuart. The White House of the Confederacy also has numerous artifacts that narrate the stories of the common soldiers that saw action in the American Civil War.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is well noted for housing priceless collections of works of art that are the envy of numerous museums in the bigger cities of the United States. This City of Richmond hotspot boasts of permanent galleries of artworks by the leading early 20th century European masters. This includes Matisse, Picasso, Braque to name just but a few. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts as well possesses an intriguing collection of modernist works of arts including pieces of German Expressionism. Other popular attractions of this leading Richmond museum includes artworks of French Impressionists, English silver, Farberge jeweled works of art and Art Deco pieces. Not to forget an array of striking modern and contemporary American works of art. This Richmond museum for the fine arts is also home to collections of South Asian, Himalayan and African works of arts, which are now regarded as some of the finest of their kind in the entire country. So, a visit to the City of Richmond is never complete without finding time to tour the Virginia Museum of Fine Art.