Residents and visitors to the Historic Richmond Region continue to call it easy to love. Home to museums, breathtaking architecture and a vibrant arts community, the Region entertains and enlightens. Historic buildings and world-class museums nestle next to new structures designed to harmonize with the past even as they define the future. Richmond—fun, affordable and accessible—offers the benefits of a big city and the warmth of a small town. There are trendy areas and endless pockets of discovery—all in a historic setting that reminds us of who we are as Americans.

Located on the James River fall line, Richmond was founded in 1607 by Captains Christopher Newport and John Smith of Jamestown fame. Patrick Henry lit the fires of revolution when he delivered his "…give me liberty or give me death…" speech at St. John's Church in 1775. You can still visit St. John's, and during the summer enjoy the reenactments of Henry's famous speech. Richmond replaced Williamsburg as capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1780. The Virginia State Capitol was designed by Thomas Jefferson and is one of the most visited sites in the city.

Visitors to the Richmond Region find the traditions of history and culture alive today. Historic homes and neighborhoods, Civil War and Revolutionary War sites and museums, gardens and nature centers, science & art museums, sports teams and the James River offer a myriad of activities throughout the Region. Combined with excellent shopping and excellent dining, these attractions are enough to create several fun-filled weekends.

The Richmond Region is rich in historic homes and famous folk. Henricus Historical Park recreates the New World's second successful English settlement, the 1611 Citie of Henricus. The John Marshall House, Edgar Allan Poe Museum, Maggie Walker House, Meadow Farm and Scotchtown all interpret the lives of distinguished people.

The Valentine Richmond History Center presents "the story of Richmond," as well as the nation. One of the largest textile collections in the South is housed at the Richmond History Center. At any time, you can see period clothing, bedding or other household materials. The Virginia Historical Society and Museum covers Virginia's history from Native America to the present day.

If Civil War is an interest, be sure to visit the National Park Service's Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works. The rangers can direct you to surrounding battlefields as well as familiarize you with the impact the war had on Richmond. One of Richmond's many Civil War attractions is the Museum of the Confederacy, which houses the most comprehensive collection of Confederate artifacts in the world. Adjacent to the museum is the White House of the Confederacy, fully restored to its Victorian splendor. Chimborazo Medical Museum, run by the National Park Service and located in historic Church Hill, focuses on the medical aspect of the Civil War.

Once known as the Harlem of the South, the Jackson Ward neighborhood is home to the Black History Museum, the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site and a statue of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, a tap dancer famously popular in the 1930s. Every fall the neighborhood is hopping at the annual Second Street Festival with people, food, jazz, gospel music, a market and more. The hands of time are turned back to the 1920s-40s when the street was the heart of the Region’s African American community.

The first state-supported art museum opened in Richmond in 1936 and today is one of the top art museums in the nation. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts presents a panoramic look at creative achievements, with the largest public collection of Faberge Easter eggs outside Russia. The Science Museum of Virginia presents hands-on exhibits on aerospace, electricity, biological timing and more - complete with an IMAX Theater. Richmond's new Children's Museum offers activities for children of all ages. Try on eagle's wings, wiggle through a digestive tract, tinker in the Inventor's laboratory or create your own art.

Anytime of year is a good time to visit the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, which contains acres of gardens, winding paths and a wetland environment. Maymont, a 100-acre property with gardens, a historic home, children's farm and Nature Center is a not-to-be-missed spot for animal and nature lovers of all ages.

Richmond can also boast a splendid natural resource in the James River – one of the only urban settings for class III and class IV white water rapids as well as fishing and canoeing. For a more tranquil experience try bird watching at Dutch Gap Conservatory, or cycling on Belle Isle. You may choose to spend time strolling along the historic Canal Walk conceived by George Washington. It winds 1.25 miles along the James River and takes you through historical moments in Richmond's history. The restored canal offers boat rides and tours.

Sports fans have plenty to choose from year round. Other than the races at Richmond International Raceway, sports fans can check out the Richmond Renegades hockey in the winter and the Richmond Braves baseball and Richmond Kickers professional soccer team during the spring and summer months.

Richmond is also a great place to have a meal. There are more than 400 restaurants to choose from including a AAA, Five Diamond rated restaurant, Lemaire, located in the Jefferson Hotel. Around the Region you can forgo the usual and experience a variety of ethnic cuisines and world-wide influences. You could spend a weekend just sampling food! The Region is very easy to love if you are a beer fan. Several microbreweries serve excellent beer along with delicious food. Legend Brewing Company affords a view of the river and the skyline and Richbrau is a hot spot in Historic Shockoe Slip. Visitors to the Region in May can sample these beers and many more at the River City Beer and Seafood Festival located on Brown’s Island.

Nightlife and performing arts are vibrant throughout the Region. The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen is home to the Latin Ballet of Virginia. The Richmond Symphony, Richmond Ballet and Virginia Opera make their home in Richmond, continuously entrancing audiences. Theaters such as the Landmark Theater and the Carpenter Center for Performing Arts, both gorgeous historic buildings, draw high-profile concerts, off-Broadway shows, comedians and other outstanding performances.
Around every corner of the Historic Richmond Region there is a pocket of discovery like Hollywood Cemetery – where two U.S. presidents are buried along with many Confederate notables. Or Carytown, one of Richmond’s earliest shopping areas, now home to a wide range of eclectic shops and eateries.

Whatever your interests are, there is something for you to discover in the Historic Richmond Region. For a complete listing of all the Region has to offer, call 1-888-RICHMOND for a free Visitors Guide. And visit soon to see for yourself why Richmond is easy to love.

When You Go:
Stop in the Richmond Region Visitor Center at 405 North 3rd Street to learn about the variety of places to visit. Just follow the Tourist Information signs from the highway. There is plenty of parking in a deck right next door.