Historic Richmond Inns

Join CultureWorks this June for the annual Cultsha Xpo, spotlighting Richmond’s non-profit arts and culture organizations. The event is billed as a “gathering for Cultural Shareholders” – the people who love arts and culture in Richmond as much as you do. CultureWorks promotes opportunities like Cultsha Expo for the local community to engage in cultural exchange.

Combining arts, history, culture and family fun, the expo features FREE admission to the Science Museum from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Participating organizations will share information on their classes, exhibits, seminars and events and visitors will enjoy live music, live performances and unprecedented access to the Richmond culture scene.

Over 50 local organizations will be represented at the 2012 Cultsha Xpo. These organizations include:

The Maymont Foundation

American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar

Edgar Allen Poe Museum

Barksdale Theater

Concert Ballet of Virginia

Richmond Ballet

Richmond CenterStage

Valentine Richmond History Center

Virginia Historical Society

Virginia Opera

And many More!

It is a great opportunity for loyal visitors to the region to discover what the most exciting events, festivals, classes and lectures will be this year giving you an advantage when booking ahead and planning your next stay at the Historic Richmond Inns. Event sponsors and the Science Museum of Virginia look forward to welcoming you in June!

The Historic Richmond Inns

Are you planning a stay at the Historic Richmond Inns soon? Did you know that the Valentine Richmond History Center offers walking and bus tours of historic Richmond from a variety of unique perspectives? Here is a sampling of the offerings in May and June that you should put on your “can’t-miss” list if you are anticipating a fun-filled stay in the next month or so!

May 26: Canal Boats and Cobblestones (Evening Tour! 6 PM – 7:30 PM) – Walking

May 27: Richmond in 1812 (New Tour – 2 to 4 PM) – Walking

May 28: Historic Cemeteries Bus Tour (Free for All Veterans! 10 AM – 1 PM) – Bus

June 2: Broad St. Arts and Cultural Tour (New Director’s Tour – 10 AM – 12 PM) – Walking

June 3: Carytown and The Byrd Theatre, Revisited (2 PM – 4 PM) – Walking

June 9: Richmond’s African American Heritage (1 PM – 4 PM) – Bus

June 10: Hollywood Cemetery Tour (2 – 4 PM) – Walking

June 14: Monument Avenue (6 PM – 7:30 PM) – Evening Walking

June 17: Church Hill (2 PM – 4 PM) – Walking

June 23: Hollywood Cemetery: The Civil War (New Tour! 2 PM – 4 PM) – Walking

June 24: Canal Boats and Cobblestones (2 PM – 4 PM) – Walking

Walking tours are $10 ($5 for members) and bus tours are $25 ($20 for members).

Reservations and more information on the tours can be obtained online.

There is always something enlightening and entertaining happening at the Valentine Richmond History Center. Make at least one visit or tour a priority during your next stay at the Historic Richmond Inns! It’s the perfect complement to our premium accommodations and daily gourmet breakfasts, as well as the personal attention you deserve and the Southern Hospitality at which we excel! Don’t wait – make your reservations for your tour and stay today!

The Historic Richmond Inns

Richmond historians are uniquely attuned to the African American heritage to which the region is home. A deeply moving slave trail tells the compelling story of Richmond’s underground railroad, complete with the site of one of the most infamous slave jails in the area and tributes to the men and women who suffered unthinkable treatment as the possessions of other men. The Civil War Museum has developed into an institution that examines the human condition from various perspectives and contexts that allowed for the perpetuation of the slave industry until the end of the war.

The Valentine Richmond History Center will continue the conversation and highlight the immense contributions of the members of this community in Richmond with its “African American Heritage Bus Tour” on June 9 from 1 PM – 4 PM.

The tour will examine the role of “urban slaves” and free blacks as well as the history and impact of the Jim Crow era. Learn about Maggie Walker, Oliver Hill and Douglas Wilder among others and tour Jackson Ward and the Civil Rights Memorial at Capitol Square. Reservations for the tour are required and can be made by calling 804-649-0711, ext. 301. The tour is $25 or $20 for members.

The Valentine Richmond History Center offers many tours throughout the year. If you love Richmond heritage and American History, pair your tour with a stay at one of the Historic Richmond Inns and plan to spend at least two nights exploring the area and learning about its cultural, spiritual, technological and historical influences. What better way to relax after a full day of history hopping than the comforts of your luxury accommodations and a full gourmet breakfast each morning? Reservations book quickly, so make your plans today!

The Historic Richmond Inns

The Valentine Richmond History Center has announced its 2012 historic walking tour schedule. As in years past, there are options for every enthusiast, including the following April and May tours:

April 1: Manchester (2-4 PM)

April 2: Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery (10 – 11:30 AM)

April 8: Hollywood Cemetery (2-4 PM)

April 14: Monroe Ward (2-4 PM)

April 14: Civil War Sampler (1-5 PM / Bus Tour)

April 15: Monument Avenue (2-4 PM)

April 22: The Alleys and Parks of the Fan (2-4 PM)

April 28: History Hounds Explore Church Hill (10 AM – 12 PM / Walking Tour with Dogs)

April 29: Main Street Recycled (2-4 PM / New)

May 1: City Center Walks (10:30 AM – 12 PM)

May 6: Jackson Ward (2-4 PM)

May 13: Hollywood Cemetery (2-4 PM)

May 19: History Hounds Explore Hollywood Cemetery (10 AM – 12 PM / Walking Tour with Dogs)

May 20: Downtown Churches (2-4PM)

May 26: Canal Boats and Cobblestones (6-7:30 PM / Evening Walking Tour)

May 27: Richmond in 1812 (2-4 PM / New)

May 28: Historic Cemeteries Tour (10 AM – 1 PM / Free for All Veterans / BUS Tour)

The exciting assortment of tours continues through December with similarly engaging historic opportunities. Most tours are $10 per person ($5 for History Center Members) and reservations can be made online or by phone at 804-649-0711, ext. 301.

Relax after your tour in your premium accommodations at one of the Historic Richmond Inns. Swap stories of Richmond past and present with delightful, hospitable innkeepers and sleep well after your adventures. Wake up to a gourmet breakfast and peaceful atmosphere – with quality attractions and affordable tours, combined with incomparable hosts, you’ll want to schedule your next visit before you finish the first! We look forward to having you!

The Historic Richmond Inns

Beginning March 14^th, the American Civil War Center at Tredegar, the Library of Virginia, the Valentine Richmond History Center and Floricane will present four free events designed to share Richmond’s 400-year history designed to make you change the way you look at the RVA forever.

The first event, “Signs of the Times” is scheduled for March 14 from 5:30 – 8:00 PM at the Library of Virginia on East Broad Street. It is described as “an exploration of the varied and oft untouched parts of Richmond’s 400 year history; from the well-known to the never heard of.” After the lecture, participants will break up with local advertising professionals and help create “visual propaganda celebrating moments of transformation” in Richmond.

Head to the Valentine Richmond History Center for Session Two: “Built Spaces – Remapping Our Past” on March 28. Study current Richmond maps and hear the stories about building that happened only in concept and the impact of the “unrealized” on today’s Richmond reality.

Session Three: “RVA B-Roll” will be held at the American Civil War Center at Tredegar on April 11. Enjoy history through the eyes of Richmond’s tourism videos! Some of the films are described as so bad that they’re good. Participants will even help shape future videos.

The Library of Virginia will host Session Four on April 25: “A New Story”. The crowd-sourced video from Session Three will be screened and participants will discuss the future of Richmond’s story.

All sessions are free but require online registration. Locals and long-time lovers of the RVA, join in the movement to tell the real story of the region. Make your Historic Richmond Inns reservations now and be part of Richmond’s future.

The Historic Richmond Inns

Richmond is magnetic to American history buffs, and the Valentine Richmond History Center is a premier destination in a sea of esteemed attractions preserving hundreds of years of local stories. A slice of history itself, it opened in 1898 and was the first private museum in the City of Richmond.  Its mission is to “engage, educate, and challenge a diverse audience by collecting, preserving, and interpreting Richmond’s history.”

Permanent collections at the museum include The Edward V. Valentine Sculpture Studio, one of four surviving 19^th Century sculpture studios open to the public. Valentine created well-known works including the Recumbent Lee statue at Washington & Lee University, and the statue of Thomas Jefferson at the Jefferson Hotel.  The original museum building, The Wickham House, is also a permanent exhibit and tours of the 2^nd floor of the home are included in paid admission. An exhibit entitled “Settlement to Streetcar” chronicles three centuries of Richmond’s history, and the whimsical “Signs of the Times” is a collection of vintage neon signs and photographs from area businesses. Many temporary exhibits are available on a rotating basis throughout the year as well.

Among the most popular offerings at the museum is an array of historical walking tours. Two regular itineraries operate April – October and on certain November dates. The Highlights of Hollywood Tour is 2 hours in duration and focuses on the Hollywood Cemetery, resting place of US Presidents, Confederate leaders and many local historical figures of note.  The City Center Walking Tour operates Monday – Saturday, May 2 through September 24.  This tour of E. Broad Street and Grace Street includes a pass by Richmond’s CenterStage, the National Theater, the Virginia State Capitol and other significant, enduring testaments to the region’s past.

The Center also frequently offers “special walking tours”, including the upcoming Byrd Park Walking Tour on September 25, the Manchester Walking Tour on October 2, and the Oregon Hill Walking Tour on October 16. In addition, a variety of bus tours are available to the public as well. A complete calendar is available online to help you plan your next visit to the Center.

For a vacation that will make history, plan to stay at an Historic Richmond Inn and leave lots of time in your schedule to take advantage of the many exhibits, presentations and walking tours offered by the Valentine Richmond History Center.

The Historic Richmond Inns