Drive along an 80-mile (130-kilometer) route through Richmond National Battlefield Park, with a portion in the state capital, Richmond. The city experienced conflict between Confederate and Union forces from 1861 to 1865, in large part because it was a center for manufacturing. Discover where most of the cannons for the Confederate side were made as you tour the area.
The Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond manufactured an assortment of artillery, locomotives and iron cladding for warships, important in making Richmond a manufacturing center and the capital of the state. Explore the site and study the large cannon standing in front of the brick building.
Next to the James River you’ll find the Civil War Visitor Center. Inside the three-story building are two galleries and over 500 artifacts in the American Civil War Museum. Another museum site nearby is the White House of the Confederacy, built in 1818, and the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the war. Book a morning or afternoon tour of the building.
Even before the Civil War, Richmond was known for its large hospital and medical services. Chimborazo Hospital became particularly important during the war to treat sick and injured Confederate soldiers. Walk through Chimborazo Medical Museum to learn about the role this facility played. Other sites that are part of the museum system include Fort Harrison Visitor Center and Cold Harbor Battlefield Visitor Center near Mechanicsville.
Follow a self-guided walking trail that begins at the Fort Harrison Visitor Center. The roughly 30-minute trail is part of the Battlefield Tour, which includes a dozen battlefields and other sites of interest at Richmond National Battlefield Park. Drive the full Battlefield Tour in about 6 to 8 hours. Walk a few portions and get information from interpretive boards and park rangers along the way. As you view Beaver Dam Creek, the Chickahominy River and other outdoor sites, imagine the Union and Confederate soldiers fighting in these sites that are now serene and beautiful.
