RICHMOND
A thriving metropolis bordering the
James River in the center of
Virginia, Richmond has been the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia since 1780. This city has been the stage of many historical events and its role as the capital of the Confederate States of America left a permanent mark in American history.
Jefferson Davis lived in the Confederate Whitehouse while presiding over the rebel government and it was in this mansion that Robert E. Lee accepted command of the Army of Northern
Virginia. Richmond is a must see for any
U.S. patriot follower with its wealth of monuments, battlefields and Civil War museums that recall a conflict of brother against brother that cost more American life than both World Wars combined.
Richmond's position on the mid-Atlantic seaboard marks it as the entryway to the American South. The city is centrally located, leaning towards the east of the state, and near several vital
American cities. An hour or so drive north to the northern Virginia border sits our U.S. Capital,
Washington D.C. with Annapolis, MD nearby on Chesapeake Bay. To the south are the coastal cities of Virginia Beach, Newport News and
Norfolk followed by the dynamic city of Raleigh,
North Carolina across the border.
With its sultry summers and mild winters, Richmond offers more than history to the vacation visitor. It features splendid old estates, a famous botanical garden, an excellent hands-on science museum with planetarium and a beautiful fine arts museum. For NASCAR lovers, Richmond is home to the Richmond International Raceway.
ADDITIONAL VIRGINIA CITY PAGES:
- It was in Richmond's St. John's Church that revolutionary Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech.
- About 50% of all the people living in the United States reside within a radius of 500 miles surrounding Richmond, Virginia.
- Along with patriot Patrick Henry, Richmond has also been the home of such famous Virginians as writers Edgar Allan Poe and Tom Wolfe, tennis champion Arthur Ashe, actor Warren Beatty, and NFL star and sportscaster Fran Tarkenton.
