Impressive Richmond Civil War Museums and Battle Sites

Journey through time by checking out the Virginia Civil War Trails program -- which allows you to follow in the footsteps of troops in the 1860s, linking to more than 400 sites through self-guided driving tours. Spots along the Virginia Civil War Trails include national parks complete with interpreters and hands-on exhibits, as well as obscure country crossroads with signs to explain their significance.

A map showing all the Virginia Civil War Trails is available at the Richmond National Battlefield Park Civil War Visitor Center. There are also sectional maps with more details about individual sites. Divided into geographic sections, the main trails are the 1862 Peninsula Campaign: Civil War in Tidewater; Shenandoah Valley: Avenue of Invasion; Northern Virginia: Crossroads of Conflict; Lee vs. Grant: The 1864 Campaign; and Lee’s Retreat: The Final Campaigns.

A great spot to begin a Richmond Civil War tour is the Richmond National Battlefield Park Civil War Visitor Center. Exhibits and audiovisual programs introduce you to the story of Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War, and the battlefields that surround the city.

Stop by the American Civil War Center, the first museum to interweave the Union, Confederate and African-American stories of the Civil War in a national context. Then follow that with a trip to the Museum and White House of the Confederacy, featuring most comprehensive collection of military, political and domestic artifacts and art from the Confederacy.

A complete tour of Richmond National Battlefield Park involves an 80-mile drive. Stops along the way include Cold Harbor -- where Confederates blocked Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s path to Richmond by building entrenchments stretching for 7 miles. After Cold Harbor, Grant crossed the James River and directed his army against Petersburg while maintaining simultaneous pressure against Richmond. Fort Harrison, a unit of the National Park Service at Richmond, reflects that period and is one of the best-preserved earthen forts in Virginia. Also, visit the Chimborazo Visitor Center, site of the Confederacy’s Chimborazo Hospital, the largest military hospital in the world during Civil War times.

Create your own Civil War tour itinerary.

Learn about Key Virginia Civil War Battles

Transport yourself to some of most important years in the Region’s history by visiting fascinating Richmond Civil War battle sites and museums. Start planning your trip now!