There is always a new reason to come to downtown Richmond: a restaurant opening, a store with one-of-a-kind finds, a freshly painted mural, but there is also an abundance of history to take in and experience firsthand. Lucky for us, we have the museums, guides, and tours to tell you the story of our city by Segway, bike, trolley, boat or foot.
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There is history at every inch and corner of historic downtown Richmond and we are eager to give you the insight of how Richmond came to be. Whatever way you like to explore Richmond: museums, self-guided trails or historic neighborhoods & buildings that have had past presidents walk its halls, you can discover it downtown.
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Looking for the best places to park or grab a bite to eat? Make sure to check out our interactive Downtown Richmond Map so you can plan your trip!
Museums in Downtown Richmond
The American Civil War Museum is more than a collection of artifacts. In the battle against the all-too-human instinct to wish the past were simple, the museum explores the unparalleled significance the Civil War holds to complexities we face today.
- Location: 480 Tredegar St, Richmond, VA 23219
- Hours: Thursday - Monday 10:00am - 4:00pm
Black History Museum and Cultural Center
The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia celebrates the rich culture and moving histories of African American people in Virginia and their contributions to our magnificent country.
- Location: 122 West Leigh St, Richmond VA 23220
- Hours: Thursday - Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works
This National Park Service visitors center in downtown Richmond offers both self-guided and guided walking tours. It is the main visitor center for Richmond National Battlefield Parks. Exhibits and artifacts are on display. Orientation films are shown throughout the day.
- Location: 500 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA 23219
- Hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 9:00am - 4:30pm; Closed Monday and Tuesday
Edgar Allan Poe was one of the most important and influential American writers of the 19th century. The Poe Museum’s collection is the most comprehensive in the world and its programs reach thousands of scholars, students, teachers and literary enthusiasts every year.
- Location: 1914 East Main Street Richmond, VA 23223
- Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm; Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm
The Richmond Railroad Museum is located in the restored historic Southern Railway Station just south of the James River in the Manchester neighborhood.
- Location: 102 Hull Street Richmond, VA 23224
- Hours: Saturday 11:00am - 4:00pm; Sunday 1:00pm - 4:00pm
The Valentine has been collecting, preserving and interpreting Richmond’s 400-year history for over a century. Located in the heart of historic downtown, the Valentine is a place for residents and tourists to discover the diverse stories that tell the broader history of this important region.
- Location: 1015 East Clay Street Richmond, VA 23219-1527
- Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm
The Virginia Holocaust Museum has grown steadily since 2003, and now has an average of over 42,000 visitors each year. It remains an important location for Virginia field trips, with students from over 100 middle and high schools visiting yearly.
- Location: 2000 East Cary Street Richmond, Virginia 23223
- Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm; Sat. & Sun.: 11:00am - 5:00pm
The Virginia Telephone Museum exhibits phones dating back to the late 1800s, switchboards, phone books and tools.
- Location: 713 E. Grace St. Richmond, VA 23219
- Hours: Temporarily closed until Spring 2021
The Virginia War Memorial is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s premier monument, museum, and educational center dedicated to Virginians who served to defend the United States from World War II through today.
- Location: 621 S. Belvidere St. Richmond, VA 23220
- Hours: Monday - Saturday 9:00am - 4:00pm; Sunday Noon - 4:00pm
The City of Richmond and the Slave Trail Commission unveiled markers for the Richmond Slave Trail in April 2011. Seventeen markers along the path display somber and illuminating information on the history of slavery in Richmond. This three-mile trail goes from the James River at the Manchester Docks at Ancarrow’s Boat Landing into downtown and Shockoe Bottom to Lumpkin’s Slave Jail.
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First Freedom Center was founded in 1984 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, adopted in 1786 by the Virginia General Assembly. Free to visit, the First Freedom Center celebrates this important history by exploring the past, present and future of religious freedom in America.
- Location: South 14th & Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219
- Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm; Sunday Noon - 5:00pm
The Federal Reserve in Richmond
The Fed Experience is a free educational exhibit located in the lobby of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Simulations and interactive exhibits for children and adults.
- Location: 701 East Byrd Street Richmond, Virginia 23219
- Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 4:00p
Downtown Richmond Tours
The Riverfront Canal Cruise in downtown Richmond features a 40-minute, historically-narrated boat tour of the James River and Kanawha Canal, designed by George Washington.
- Canal Cruises aren’t running in 2020 due to safety precautions, but we hope to see you back in spring 2021!
- Learn more about Riverfront Canal Cruises here!
Real Richmond Food Tours
Come along with REAL RICHMOND Food Tours, as we help visitors and residents alike navigate the culinary and cultural riches that RVA has to offer.
Richmond Brewery Tours
Visiting Richmond’s breweries, both the stalwarts and the up-and-comers, is among Richmonders’ favorite pastimes. We’ve never met a beer we didn’t want to try at least once. And Richmond Brewery Tours is ready to share our knowledge of Richmond’s beer scene with you! Check out their Tacky Lights Tour for the holidays too!
Richmond Mural Project
The Richmond Mural Project is a yearly event with the goal of creating over 100 murals by world-renown talent in the first 5 years alone. The recurrence and solidification of the project throughout this time has established Richmond as a landmark destination for internationally recognized murals, establishing it as a premier art destination.
River City Food Tours
River City Food Tours are about exploring new restaurants and foods. They believe a great food tour should introduce you to at least one new spot you’ll return to again and again! Our personal favorite is the Downtown Booze & Bites Tour.
RVA Trolley
Historic tours, Craft Brewery tours, Winery tours, Food tours, Street Art tours, as well as custom tours! Explore all Richmond has to offer on board one of our classic vintage trolleys!
- Location: 1301 E. Cary Street Richmond, VA 23219
- RVA Trolley Website
Segway of Richmond
Segways are a perfect way to tour Richmond and super easy to use. Cover more ground than walking, but still get up close to all the amazing things Richmond has to offer - history, street art, and more!
- Location: 1301 E. Cary Street Richmond, VA 23219
- Segway of Richmond Website
UntoldRVA
Untold RVA is the people's choice for the creative advancement of Richmond's most powerful self-determination narratives that are hidden in plain sight.
Historic Sites and Buildings in Downtown Richmond
Find these historic sites and buildings on our Downtown Richmond Map!
17th Street Farmers’ Market
Egyptian Building
Executive Mansion
John Marshall House
Library of Virginia
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
Maggie L. Walker Statue and Plaza
Main Street Station
Monumental Church
Old City Hall
Richmond African Burial Ground
Richmond Liberty Trail
Richmond Slave Trail
Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church
Triple Crossing
Virginia State Capitol/Capitol Square
Annual Festivals & Events in Downtown Richmond
For your own health and safety, please keep an eye on our Featured Downtown Events webpage for updated event information throughout the year.
Spring
- Dominion Energy Riverrock
- ¿Qué Pasa? Festival
- Richmond Restaurant Week
- Virginia Black Restaurant Week
Summer
- Friday Cheers
- Broad Appetit
- Music in the Garden at the Valentine
- Juneteenth: A Freedom Celebration
- Richmond International Dragon Boat Festival
Fall
- 2nd Street Festival
- Richmond Folk Festival
- Virginia Pride
- Richmond Marathon
- Festival of India
- Richmond Restaurant Week
- Camp Kanawha Halloween Cruises
Winter
- Shiver in the River
- Richmond Cider Celebration
- Grand Illumination / RVA Illuminates
- Richmond Christmas Parade
- Craft + Design
- Virginia Wine Expo