14/10/2022
American Civil War Museum
As Richmond served as the capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, it would be remiss to visit and not stop by this magnificent museum. Housed at the historic Tredegar Iron Works just off Brown’s Island, its engaging exhibits and original artifacts present a picture of the war from numerous perspectives.
Only opened in 2019, its beautiful new building blends perfectly with the battered old bricks of the 1837 industrial site around it. Inside, well-done displays document the history of the Civil War, its key events and figures. These exhibits cover not just the Union and Confederate positions but those of common soldiers, civilians and both enslaved and free African Americans too.
Its immersive A People’s Contest film also highlights the important role Richmond played while a statue of Abraham Lincoln and his son sits outside.