Richmond,
Virginia, as one of the country’s oldest cities, has been at the nexus of
cultural history since its original settlement in 1607 and platting in 1737. It
was officially named, because of its similar views to the area of Richmond Hill
in England, and incorporated in 1742 and the view remains almost unchanged from
today’s Libby Hill. www.visitrichmondva.com
After the American Revolution
Richmond thrived as a manufacturing, shipping and slave trading center.
Virginia’s population by 1776 was 50% enslaved and in1860 there were more
slaves and free blacks in the state than in any other. It is estimated that 40%
of the enslaved passed through the city, an estimated 300,000 people. Slave
ships docked in the James and York Rivers and Richmond became the second
largest hub for the internal slave trade, sending the enslaved “down the river”.
Shortly
after VA seceded from the US in1861 it was deemed the Confederate capital and the
White House of the Confederacy was relocated there from Montgomery, Alabama.
The city had many resources but it was a targeted 100-miles from DC and the US
Army’s call became “On to Richmond.” Richmond practiced urban slavery and many
blacks were highly skilled, were owned by industrial corporations and some were
allowed to hire themselves out for wages. They were made to assist in the war
effort and sales continued until one month before the Civil War ended.
I
strongly suggest that visitors take a guided tour to get an overview. The 2-hour
Richmond Trolley Company tour encompasses more than 12 of the most significant
sites and can be reserved online. http://richmondtrolley.com
Tredegar
Iron Works produced vast quantities of Confederate artillery, heavy ordinance,
buttons and armor plating during the Civil War. It employed more than 1,000
white workers, slaves and free blacks and everyone was paid equal wages. Today
the complex is home to the American Civil War Center and the National Battlefield
Headquarters at Tredegar. The Civil War Museum preserves one of the best
collections of Civil War photographs, documents and artifacts. The museum was
the first to examine the Civil War from three perspectives, the Union, the
Confederacy and African Americans. http://www.tredegar.org
Self-guided
tours proceed chronologically through the war beginning with a film that asks
visitors to vote on what they believe was the cause of the war. Galleries are
replete with dioramas, photographs and videos and every aspect of the war is
covered. This museum is mandatory for anyone seeking to understand the Civil
War in an unbiased manner. https://acwm.org
Equally
relevant is a visit to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia
(BHMVA). Founded in 1981 the museum relocated to its current space, constructed
as an armory for African American servicemen, in 2016. The first floor
galleries interpret Emancipation, Reconstruction and Civil Rights. A 35-ft.
touchscreen timeline provides a visual journey starting with Egypt BCE. Other
exhibits include the stories of Victor Green and his creation of the Green
Guide and that of Irene Morgan whose Supreme Court case changed segregation
laws on commercial passenger travel. A replica of the statue of Arthur Ashe on
Monument Avenue provides a wonderful photo op. The second floor galleries house
temporary exhibits. A huge sculptural depiction of the Emancipation Oak is
easily a highlight of the tour. The oak, located in Hampton, VA, was the site of the first public southern reading of
the Emancipation Proclamation. www.blackhistorymuseum.org
A
number of years ago the city established the Richmond Slave Trail that relates
the stories and history of the slave trade from Africa to Emancipation and all
17 of the sites have been authenticated. Lumpkin’s Jail is one of the most
intriguing sites. The compound functioned as a housing and slave auction
operation for 30-years. In 1844 Robert Lumpkin took ownership. Upon his death
in 1866 his widow Mary Ann, a former slave, became the owner and rented the
facility to a Baptist minister who founded Colver Institute for freedmen in the
former jail. Today the school is Virginia Union University, an HBCU. Site excavations
began in 2005.
In 2007 in Shockhoe Bottom, midway
the trail, a 15-ft. bronze Reconciliation Statue was placed. There are
identical statues in the two other locations, Liverpool, England, and Benin in
West Africa, recognized as ports in the triangle trade.
Jackson Ward was one of
Richmond’s first and largest, African American districts to be established. It
was a center of economic and cultural influence and was widely recognized as the
'Wall Street of Black America' and the ‘Harlem of the South.’ Today it is a
National Historic Landmark. https://www.virginia.org
Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson lived
in Jackson Ward and in 1933 he watched two children attempt to cross at a
dangerous intersection. He then paid for the neighborhood’s first traffic light
to be placed there. A 9.5-ft. aluminum monument now stands at that intersection
in a small plaza. Robinson is depicted dancing down a flight of stairs.
Maggie L. Walker and her family
resided there in a home built in 1889. In 1903 she was the first woman to open
a bank, St. Luke Penny Savings, in the United States. Richmond’s newest
sculpture is the Maggie Walker Memorial dedicated on her 153rd
birthday. She stands on a 4-ft pedestal, bankbook in hand, surrounded by ten
marble benches etched with her accomplishments.
The
Graduate Richmond is one of a collection of ten curated, thematic properties
situated in cities with dynamic and historic Universities. The hotel pays
homage to past graduates of VCU with a special nod to
Richmond native Arthur Ashe. @visitrichmond
There
are two dining options available to guests on the premises, Brookfield and The
Byrd House and 205 guestrooms complete with modern amenities, the latest
technology, designer linens and Malin & Goetz bath products.
The
Graduate Richmond is located within walking distance of shopping, dining and the
most significant city sites. @graduaterichmond
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