Day One
Tour the Virginia State Capitol. Designed by Thomas Jefferson, this neo-classical marvel features a hidden dome, pre-historic fossils in its marble floor and the Virginia Hall of Presidents.
Next, head to The Valentine which focuses on urban and social history using its collections of decorative and industrial arts, textiles and photographs.
After lunch, visit the John Marshall House and garden, an outstanding example of a Federal style home and contains a rich collection of family-owned furnishings and memorabilia.
Your next stop is at the American Civil War Museum located at Historic Tredegar on the banks of the James River. The White House of the Confederacy, a National Historic Landmark, has been carefully restored to its wartime elegance as Confederate President Jefferson Davis’ executive mansion. The museum is home to the most comprehensive collection of military, political and domestic artifacts associated with the Confederacy.
Late afternoon brings us to St. John’s Church, where Patrick Henry gave his famous, “give me liberty or give me death” speech.
Enjoy a Civil War Dinner. The year is 1862. You have just arrived in the new nation’s capital where you are greeted and begin a lively discussion of the day’s events. Spirits are high, food is plentiful and the music is upbeat.
Day Two
Journey to Henricus Historical Park and explore the recreated site of the New World’s second successful English settlement.
Next up is Agecroft Hall, a Tudor mansion built in England in the late 15th century and later dismantled and rebuilt in Richmond.
Stroll along Riverfront Canal, where four centuries of history are interpreted through monuments and exhibits. Or, take a narrated canal cruise of the canals on a charming bateau boat.
Next, head to the Virginia Holocaust Museum and learn about the lives of Holocaust survivors through their stories of the Kovno Ghetto and Dachau concentration camp.
Day Three
Visit the Virginia War Memorial, a memorial dedicated to the fallen soldiers of Virginia. A World War II veteran guides you through the memorial.
Next, explore Historic Jackson Ward, home to the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia and Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church.
After lunch, awaken your senses at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Every season in the garden is spectacular.
