Greetings from your ALSB Richmond Conference Chair!
The very best place to find loads of information about Richmond is this great site: www.visitrichmondva.com And, here is a guide to Richmond that my daughter sent me, and that she promised me describes more hip and cool things to do! http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/07/richmond-virginia-guide.html
I discovered in putting this mini-reference together that there is much, much, to do and see in Richmond. The overall guides are good, as is the National Park Service guide (below) for historic sites. For whatever it is worth, (reader beware!) I’ve listed below some of my ideas about places and short trips that could be worth your consideration.
The John Marshall House: http://www.preservationvirginia.org/marshall/index.html?process=0
I don’t need to say more; the Chief Justice’s house holds much of interest.
For a mere $10, you can buy a Court End Passport (good for a year!) that entitles you to admission to the John Marshall House, the Virginia History Center, the Wickam House and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. This is well worth the modest price and all of these are worth a visit.
A short walk from the Marshall house is the Wickam House, with the History Museum next door. The sculpture garden there is a good place to eat lunch, available from the café.
Also of historical interest is the Maggie Walker House, a National Park Service Historical Site. http://www.nps.gov/mawa/planyourvisit/index.htm Maggie Walker was a prominent black leader, banker, and businesswoman in the 1920’s.
There are MANY National Historical Sites in Richmond, and this is a great NPS website with links to many of them: http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/richmond/index.html
Richmond Architecture:
Richmond’s architecture is varied, and interesting to observe as you travel from one part of the city to another. The Fan District is the nation’s largest preserved Victorian area.
On Broad Street you can see the old Richmond Town Hall, and a few blocks from there is the Virginia State Library. Both are architectural gems and worth a peek if you are walking past. The Virginia Center for Architecture is found on grand old Monument Avenue, in a Tudor mansion that was built by the same architect who designed the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC. http://www.virginiaarchitecture.org/vca_index.html .
Unpredictably, you can also see an English Tudor mansion and English gardensundefinedthe 1600’s house was dismantled and shipped across the ocean! http://www.agecrofthall.com/ Agecroft Hall is in the area called Windsor Farms. If anyone is a Patricia Cornwell fan, this is the area described in her novels, where Kate Scarpetta lived.
Not to make this list go on forever, listed in no certain order, consider these places for a visit:
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: http://www.vmfa.state.va.us/index_second.html I can’t wait to see this museum; they have undergone a renovation and will reopen on May 1, 2010. I enjoyed the museum before, and am sure it will be a great treat in August.
Performing Arts: There are several historic theatres and a brand new performing arts center called CenterStage http://www.richmondcenterstage.com/. It is actually several venues in one, and includes the renovated, and beautiful, Carpenter Center. You will find the Richmond Symphony, Opera, and Richmond Ballet performing here. Another renovated theatre of note is the Landmark: http://www.landmarktheater.net/default.asp?landmark=1&urlkeyword=homepage
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens: Something of interest for everyone, and special activities for children. This is a special place. http://www.lewisginter.org/index.php
James River Activities: For a taste of the available canoeing, rock climbing, and other activities in this park on the river, over 500 acres in the city, see http://www.jamesriverpark.org/
Not just For Children:
Theatre IV is a nationally known theatre for children. http://www.theatreivrichmond.org/
The Children’s Museum is probably for younger children, but then I have not been there in quite a while. http://www.c-mor.org/
The Science Museum of Virginia is housed in the old train station (think Union Station type) and has many different activities, including an Imax. http://www.smv.org/
Maymont Park is a 100 acre estate designated as a public park. There is a petting zoo for children, lots of room to roam, summer activities, an interesting mansion to tour, and Japanese and Italian gardens. http://www.maymont.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=217
Further Afield:
Virginia is the birthplace of more US Presidents than any other state – 8, and the birthplace of 4 of the first 5 Presidents. Within an hour and a half drive from Richmond you can visit:
You can visit the last three in one trip, as they are located a short distance from each other. You might also want to stop at historic Michie’s Tavern for a colonial meal on your trip. http://www.michietavern.com/
If you have longer to visit, or seek hiking and outdoor activity, consider Wintergreen Resort, located a short drive away in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are trails, golf, swimming, and a relaxing atmosphere.
Of course you can go to Washington DC, which is a bit longer drive, but within 2 ours. Or you can return to the Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown and spend many more hours there. If you do, don’t miss the original Jamestown archeology site, and the Jamestown glass blowing site (the first industry brought by the English settlers) among other historical sites. For a break from history, you can visit Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, or visit the Prime Outlet Malls. http://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/index.aspx
This list is just a start; I feel compelled to apologize for leaving out so much! Hopefully this will give you some ideas. (A list of restaurants will also be made available at a later date.) If you have any questions, please let me know. I am getting excited already, and am looking forward to seeing you all in August!
Janine Hiller
2010 Conference Chair
jhiller@vt.edu