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Major Sites and Attractions
St. John's Church
2401 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23223
Tel: 804-649-7938 / 804-648-5015 (tours)
Being the oldest church in Richmond, Virginia, St. John's stands as a historic
landmark. St. John's held the Second Virginia Convention in 1775, in which Patrick
Henry spoke the famous words "Give me Liberty or Give me Death."
Monument Avenue District
District Boundaries: Roseneath to Birch Streets
Monument Avenue was built to extend Franklin Street toward the Lee Monument, which
was unveiled in 1890. This new street became a sought-after address. The avenue
continued westward over the next forty years following the placement of new monuments
along the street. Monument Avenue is a famous example of Beaux-Arts planning and
the City Beautiful movement. Its wide lanes and generous medians make it one of
the most beautiful avenues in America.
The Boulevard District
District Boundaries: West Grace to Idlewood Ave.
Originally named Clover Street, Boulevard was once a small road running through
Channing Robinson's farmland. In 1884 Robinson's land became the site of the
Robert E. Lee Camp No. 1, a home for Confederate veterans that included a hospital,
chapel and cottages. Robinson's house and the chapel (below) still stand on the
property that now belongs to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. In 1890 the street
was widened and renamed the "Boulevard." It provided access to Reservoir Park,
now called Byrd Park, by the Main Street trolley line. Boulevard is lined with
fashionable apartment houses that were popular in the early decades of the
twentieth century. The apartment houses are mixed with town houses of varying
styles. Many of these buildings have recently undergone extensive renovation.
State Capitol
Capitol Square, 1785-1792
Architects: Thomas Jefferson & Charles-Louis Clerisseau
Neo-Classical;. While in France, Jefferson was inspired by the first-century
Roman temple "La Maison Carree" in Nimes. Jefferson, an amateur architect,
enlisted the help of Clerisseau, an expert on ancient buildings. Clerisseau
directed the creation of a plaster model for the new building and Jefferson
drew plans. The front steps and wings were added in 1906. The exterior is stucco
on brick. The Capitol is the first full-scale building in the form of a classical
temple since antiquity. A must-see for any visitor.
Pamplin Historical Park & National Museum of the Civil War Soldier
Journey back into the 19th Century at Pamplin Historical Park and The National
Museum of the Civil War Soldier! Listed on the National Register of Historic
Places and a Virginia Historic Landmark, Pamplin Historical Park is recognized
as one of America's premier historical attractions and as the most innovative
Civil War history park in the country.
Museum of the Confederacy
1201 E. Clay Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Tel: 804-649-1861
The Museum of the Confederacy's rich collection of civilian and military Civil
War artifacts relating to the Confederate States of America, as well as the post-war
"Lost Cause" era, is a valuable resource for the study of the role of the Confederacy
in the War and in our society today. The Museum organizes and sponsors a variety of
lectures and other special events and programs, inviting the public to join us in
our exploration of American society in the 1800s. Open daily Monday-Saturdays 10:00
am to 5 pm, Sundays 12:00pm to 5:00 pm.
Maymont House & Park
1700 Hampton Street, Richmond, Virginia
Tel: 804-358-7166
A first visit to Maymont is best started at the new Robins Nature & Visitor
Center-Maymont's front door-but a history lover will soon find a path to the 1893
Maymont House. A plant lover will find the elaborate Japanese and Italian gardens.
For animal lovers there are the Nature Center, Wildlife Exhibits and the
Children's Farm. Seekers of solitude will select the perfect spot under a
stately elm or beside a babbling brook.
Shockoe Slip & Shockoe Bottom
Cary Street from 10th to 13th Streets, Richmond, Virginia
An array of cobblestone streets, restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, antique and
clothing shops, Shockoe Slip is a historic 3-block area of fun. Comedy, dancing, and
excellent dining are notable characteristics in this area, where renovated tobacco
buildings and warehouses lie. Store hours vary, and only few are open on Sundays.
The Fan District
District Boundaries: Boulevard to Belvidere Street and Main Street to Broad Street
The large area called the Fan District actually encompasses other historic districts,
including West Franklin Street, Monument Avenue, Grace Street, and Boulevard Districts.
It is the largest intact Victorian community in the United States and encompasses over
100 city blocks. The District's name derives from the street pattern created by the
pentagonal shape of Monroe Park, the base of the district. The streets that fan
westward from the park contain residential structures built before and after the
1880s and the 1920s. The houses, seemingly uniform at first glance, display a wide
variety of facades, porches and rooflines.
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