Since I run a free walking tour, I thought it might be nice to let you all know about another 8 free things to do in Richmond while here, or if you live here (after or before the Richmond Tour Guys Free Walking Tour of Richmond, VA, of course):
Maymont is the residence of former Militia Leader, succesful, then failed New York banker, and first mover in the mass production of what we currently call cigarettes. ‘
Don’t hold that against him if you’re anti-smoking, he probably thought it was some sort of medicine.
His legacy is this incredible, a sprawling estate with wild animal exhibits, Japanese and Italian tea gardens, a turn of the century mansion, countless festivals, vegetation and beauty (and concession stands). The kicker is that it’s free! Just stroll into the park. You can donate if you want. I usually drop a fiver in the box on the way in.
Check out the website: http://www.maymont.org/
There is a reason that the main walking tour ends at the Capitol Building of Virginia… it has a free tour too! Week days and Saturdays from 8-5 on the hour you can tour the oldest Neo-Classical building in the world. Sit in the chairs where famous Virginians such as Edmund Randolph, Patrick Henry, George Wythe, and countless others debated the issues of the day with their fellow Delegates and Senators.
This is one of the main attractions in Richmond. Presidents James Monroe, John Tyler, and James Madison are buried here along side Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Confederate General George Pickett. You can see all of these men’s graves and many more for the price of $0. don’t forget the Confederate Soldiers Pyramid Monument! One guy got pardoned from prison for scaling the structure to place the capstone.
4. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)
Personally, I am not an art enthusiast. But I loved the VMFA. There are so many nice exhibits and it’s not overcrowded with pieces like a lot of fine arts museums.
It’s impressive, it’s beautiful, and most importantly…… it’s free.
And it’s huge.
Like… huge.
I really enjoyed to old English painting parody scenes and the African masks exhibit.
Check out their website here: http://vmfa.museum/
The “Iron Maker of the Confederacy” is now a beautiful visitor’s center with incredible grounds filled with equipment used by the Iron makers of the day. It is situated on the James River (and near the meeting point of the Richmond Tour Guys Free Walking Tour). There is a very nice museum that talks exclusively about Richmond during the Civil War… the suffering, the successes, and the characters who made this tumultuous period of American history stick in the minds of generations to come.
Warning: the Tredegar Museum is free (it’s a National Park), but next to it is the Civil War Museum. It’s a good museum, but admission is $8, so make sure to go into the correct building.
This is another part of the Richmond Battlefield National Park in Richmond. It is free to go in and check out the hospital that nursed Confederate wounded. Learn about the physicians and medical professionals of the past, all while walking beautifully manicured grounds.
There is not much in the way of the park. There is the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument column patterned after Pompey’s Pillar in Egypt. The appeal of this spot if the view. You get a beautiful clear view of the James river and City proper. This is the spot where William Byrd II looked out and named Richmond after the City of Richmond, England because they looked so similar.
8. Battlefields Surrounding Richmond
A part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park is the actual Battlefields that surround the city. If you have an extra day here, drive and check out Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Drewery’s Bluff, Gaines Mill, and the 5 or 6 or so other battle fields in the area. These were the defensive outposts of Richmond. Confederate soldiers fought tooth and nail to beat back Union advances, hastily digging. these earthen fortifications that still remain.
Also free is Belle Isle where Union Prisoners were kept. there’s not much over there, however it’s a very beautiful walk!
Did I miss anything? Let me know.