For this post, rather than writing about some historical aspect of the City, I thought I would point you to some resources that I use and follow to learn about Richmond History. On here are some blogs, some articles, some resources for historic research, current event in RVA, and a few other websites of interest. This will probably be turned into a page on the website at some point.
Richmond History Related Blogs and Articles
History Replays Today – This is, as far as I know, the only podcast on the History of Richmond. Twice monthly, Jeff Majer interviews experts on the history or certain parts of the history of Richmond.
Shockoe Examiner – A blog by Ray Bonis and Selden Richardson, local historians and authors. This has consistently some of the best articles about facets of Richmond’s History that I can point readers to. Probably the most thorough blog on this page of links.
Architecture Richmond – Blog about Richmond architecture. Some new, some old, but it’s a great resource to learn about Richmond from an architectural perspective.
Classic Wrestling Venues – Richmond Arena – An article on Pro-Wrestling in Richmond, VA via the old Richmond Area.
Fan of The Fan – history of The Fan District – A current events blog about The Fan district in Richmond, but this article specifically has a very nice piece on the history of the Fan.
Richmond Then and Now – Photographic tour of Richmond comparing the old look of the city to the new.
Old House Diaries – A directory with historic information on homes throughout Richmond.If you see a plaque on a home that you see, you can look up more information here. A lot of this is updated by people who live in these houses. Great way to track down ancestors.
Historical Resources
Virginia Historical Society – Preserving many of Virginia’s historical records and primary sources. It’s a great building to visit, and the website makes for a great place to start some research; especially genealogy research.
Library of Virginia – Since 1826, Virginia has had a State library which houses many primary sources from famous people on down to land records. It also has, of course, a library of books. It’s another great place to do research for your own book or blog.
The Valentine Museum – The first museum in Richmond. Full of sources and information on Richmond history.
Richmond National Battlefield Park – The website for all of the National Park sponsored stuff around Richmond. Mostly having to do with the Civil War.
Encyclopedia Virginia – Excellent on-line resource for the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Current Events
Richmond.com – Richmond Times-Dispatch – Richmond’s #1 newspaper turned into its current form in the mid-20th Century. This website is where the tours are listed on the Events Calendar.
Visit Richmond VA – A website for tourists to learn all about what they can do while they’re in Richmond.
Church Hill People’s News – News source for the Church Hill community… history as it happens!
RVA Blog – Current Events blog on life in RVA.
Richmond Bargains – Alison collects all of the free and cheap things to around Richmond. She also let’s you know about special sales or restaurant discounts and bargains. Subscribe to her newsletter to get weekly updates.
Preserving Richmond
Historic Richmond Foundation -Founded in the 1920s by Mary Wingfield Scott, HRF has been saving buildings from demolition for 90 years. The condition of many stops on the tour are largely in thanks to efforts by these folks.
Preservation Virginia – Similar to Historic Richmond Foundation, except they operate all around Virginia.
Other Websites of Interest
The Quack Doctor – A collection of weird old tonics and elixirs prescribed by doctors in a much more…uh.. “quaint” period of medicine. This is where I found a lot of information on Valentine’s Meat Juice.
How To Talk Virginian – How to pronounce places in Virginian vernacular…. if you say it wrong, you will be corrected.
Harry Kollatz – Richmond Magazine writer and author. One of the preeminent modern Richmond historians.
Ground Xero Wrestling (GXO) – Because the owner of Richmond Tour Guys likes professional wrestling, this is a link to the local ‘rasslin league.
Taylor’s Classic Travels – Trolley rentals in the Richmond area. They do all sorts of events, especially weddings. I have teamed with them in the past to do a tour.