Historic Richmond Inns

Photo of the Virginia Capitol Building courtesy of Tony the Misfit

On Sunday, December 11, enjoy a unique opportunity to tour nine historic sites in Downtown Richmond during the 25^th Annual Court End Christmas. Kick off the Christmas merriment with carolers, live music, historic interpreters, children’s crafts, carriage rides, games, shopping and more. The nine participating sites will waive admission during the event, and a complimentary shuttle will transport guests between properties as well as to and from parking facilities at VCU Hospital’s Visitors’ Parking Deck at Leigh and 12^th Streets, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and on-street at St. John’s Church in Church Hill.

The participating historic sites are:

The Wickham House (Home of the Valentine Richmond History Center)

Built in 1812, The Wickham House is an example of 19^th century Federal architecture with world-renowned interior decorative painting; the original home of the Valentine Museum.

The John Marshall House

John Marshall was the 4^th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. His home, built in 1790, is one of the last remaining original structures in its neighborhood.

St. John’s Church

Here is the spot where the American Revolution began before the first shots were fired. Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech at St. John’s Church on March 23, 1775.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

The building was consecrated in 1845 and is inexorably connected to the Civil War via its famous regular visitors (Robert E. Lee) and parishioners (including Jefferson Davis) and the various roles the building played. The church was used to house wounded soldiers during the war itself. President Davis’ directions to surrender Richmond were issued from St. Paul’s.

The Museum and White House of the Confederacy

Former home of the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, and his family.

Monumental Church

This church was constructed in 1814 as a memorial to the 72 people who died during the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811. It is recognized as one of the nation’s best examples of Greek revival architecture in the United States.

The Egyptian Building

Considered the finest example of Egyptian revival architecture in the US, the building was constructed in 1845 as the first home of the Hampden-Sydney College Medical Department.

The Beers House

Built in 1839, The Beers-Newton House is the present home of the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Foundation.

The Virginia State Capitol

The first elective legislature in the New World, the Virginia General Assembly, met in Jamestown from 1919-1930. The first permanent Capitol was established in Richmond in 1788 and is now the center of the three-part modern Capitol complex.

The Court End event will run from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. There is so much to do over the next 5 weeks in Richmond. Check our new website for availability this year, or plan ahead and schedule your 2012 holiday visit today!

Photo of the Virginia Capitol courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonythemisfit/, via a Creative Commons License.

© VGoodrich - Fotolia.com

Did you know that there are seven national cemeteries in the greater Richmond area, all constructed around 1866 to accommodate the mass casualties of the Civil War? Visitors are flocking to the region to participate in the commemoration of the 150^th anniversary of the war, and national cemeteries tell the story of the human toll that conflict brings. The seven Richmond national cemeteries, all open for public visitation, are:

Richmond National Cemetery, Richmond

There are 5700 unknown Union soldiers interred at Richmond National Cemetery.  Many were moved from other cemeteries when Richmond National was established in 1866, and other came directly from local battlefields and Confederate prisons.

Fort Harrison National Cemetery, Richmond

Final resting place of 1500 veterans, most of whom were killed at the Battle of Market Heights in May of 1864; among the 1500 are 600 unknown Union soldiers, 4 are Confederate soldiers and many of the rest are African American soldiers.

Glendale National Cemetery, Richmond

Built on the site of the “Battle of Frayser’s Farm” a.k.a. the Battle of Glendale, the cemetery was a reinterment site for Union soldiers who died in battles local to the Henrico location. The Battle against Union troops retreating to the James River was lost by the Confederacy. More than 1000 unknown soldiers are buried in Glendale National Cemetery.

Seven Pines National Cemetery, Sandston

Established in 1866, it was the reinterment site for Union soldiers after the Battle of Fair Oaks Station; 1300 are buried here and only 150 were identified.

Cold Harbor National Cemetery, Mechanicsville

The cemetery is built near the site of the Battle of Cold Harbor, named after a local tavern. The Confederate victory here resulted in 12,000 Union soldier deaths, and the loss of 4,000 Confederates. The cemetery is part of the Cold Harbor Battlefield and nearby Richmond National Battlefield Park.

City Point National Cemetery, Hopewell

Hopewell sits at the confluence of the James and Appomattox Rivers and was strategically critical to the Union campaign to take Petersburg, then the Confederate capital of Richmond. The area was a hub for transportation and supplies, and also home of many of the hospitals that served the severely wounded soldiers from the areas bloodiest battles. Over 6800 soldiers are interred at City Point, of who most were veterans of the Civil War. Approximately 120 Confederate soldiers are buried in the cemetery’s western section.

Poplar Grove National Cemetery, Petersburg

Final resting place of 6,188 Union soldiers, Poplar Grove National Cemetery is part of the Petersburg National Battlefield. The fall of Petersburg, and subsequently Richmond, was among the last of the Civil War. The Union won and secured Lee’s surrender by surrounding Petersburg, staying put for ten months, then completely cutting supply lines between the region and Richmond. One week after Petersburg fell, Lee surrendered in Appomattox, Virginia.

Casualties during the Civil War were so numerous that Richmond alone was forced to open seven central cemeteries to accommodate tens of thousands of bodies in a period of just one year. Every life lost was a story that deserves to be told. The seven national cemeteries of Richmond are permanent memorials to the soldiers on both sides of the front lines of one of the most harrowing domestic conflicts our nation ever suffered.

If you are a Civil War enthusiast, a lover of history, or simply a traveler of the great cities of the world, Richmond, Virginia should be a must-see on your list. Plan your trip now, while the Civil War gives such context to our shared pasts. Make reservations at your favorite Historic Richmond Inn today.

The Historic Richmond Inns

The commemoration of the sesquicentennial anniversary (150 years) of the Civil War has created unique opportunities for us to look at the conflict from entirely new or under-explored perspectives. How many times have you given real thought to the sheer number of seriously injured soldiers that suddenly flooded government hospitals during the battles?

“Chimborazo”: a funny name for a Civil War-era hospital; it’s the name of a hill situated on the east end of Richmond that was dubbed after an inactive volcano in Ecuador. When volunteer Confederate troops first gathered en masse to train and organize, they built encampments on Chimborazo , leaving behind dozens of structures when they marched to the front lines.

Confederate Surgeon General commandeered the buildings for use as a military hospital, and young Richmond physician, Dr. James B. McCaw, took his spot as the facilities only chief throughout the war. 75,000 soldiers were treated at Chimborazo during its 3 ½ year existence. After it closed in April, 1865, most of the buildings were ultimately torn down by southerners desperate for firewood. The last structure was gone by the early 1900s, and Richmond operates most of Chimborazo Hill as a park.

The Chimborazo Medical Museum commemorates the Confederacy’s largest and most successful medical hospital. Exhibits not only recount the history of the original hospital, but also the state of medicine, especially battlefield treatment and the effects of epidemics during the Civil War.

On October 29, visitors can attend “Hospital on the Hill” walking tours and learn about Richmond’s Confederate-era medicine from National Park Service Rangers. The free tours will be offered between 9 AM and 4 PM, commencing at 3215 E. Broad Street. If you are interested in more information, contact the National Park Service at 804-226-1981.

Want even more insight into the subject? Retired Army Surgeon and Civil War Authority, Dr. T. Adrian Wheat will be giving free lectures on the “Evolution of Military Medicine” at the Virginia Historical Society at 428 N. Boulevard on October 26 and 27. More information is available from the NPS at the same number listed above.

Don’t miss these free opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of medicine during the Civil War in the Confederate States. Book your accommodations at an Historic Richmond Inn today and take part in the commemoration activities!

The Historic Richmond Inns

Resources:

National Park Service: Chimborazo

The 150^th anniversary of the Civil War shines a spotlight a city that has weathered hundreds of years of tumultuous history. One quarter of all Civil War battles happened within a 75-mile radius of Richmond which served as the Confederate capital. The city’s Hollywood Cemetery is the final resting place of Confederate president, Jefferson Davis. A walking trail with historic markers now winds its way through the east end of Richmond, commemorating the experience of African Americans in the south’s largest slave market. Though the layers of history here are complicated, Richmond has played a significant role in our collective national heritage.

The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar tells the story of the Civil War through the eyes of the three vital parties: the Unionists, the Confederates and African Americans.  Exhibits narrate the war experience from each perspective, and commentary from preeminent scholars helps to examine the intricate relationships, the causes of the war and its legacies.

The Center is built on the historic site of Tredegar Ironworks, which was founded in 1836 and ultimately made armor for the CSS Virginia during Civil War, as well as munitions for the U.S. Army and Navy during the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and the Korean War.  The buildings and site have served a variety of purposes since their purchase by Ethyl Corporation in 1957. The American Civil War Center opened in October, 2006.

Adult admission to the Center is $8, $6 for seniors and $4 for children ages 6 – 17. It is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. You can follow the Center on Facebook to find out the latest happenings. Its location of the is perfect as the starting place of a long stroll down Canal Walk and is in close proximity to several battlefields. It’s more than any traveler can absorb in one day, so make a reservation at an Historic Richmond Inn and plan your stay today!

All over the state, reenactments are popping up like spring flowers. For all Civil War-related events, including living history programs, lectures, seminars and tours, seeCivilWarTraveler.com/events.

May 22-23 2010 Fort Pocahontas (Richmond Area)

Fort Pocahontas was an earthen fort built and manned by hundreds of United States Colored Troops under the direct command of Brigadier General Edward Augustus Wild. The May 24, 1864, action resulted in a victory for the USCTs against an attack led by Major General Fitzhugh Lee, Robert E. Lee’s nephew.

Ruffin Tyler, grandson of 10th President John Tyler and the resident owner of  Sherwood Forest Plantation, purchased the well-preserved earthen fort site known as Wilson’s Wharf in 1996. Virtually untouched for over 130 years, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources views Fort Pocahontas as “one of the best preserved fort sites.” It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Come visit one of the historic sites in the area and stay at one of the Historic Richmond Inns.