400 Years of History Itinerary

Turn back the clock by visiting the area's many historic homes and buildings. Virginia may have more history than any other state - and much of it occurred right here in the Richmond Region. The second successful English settlement in the New World was built at Henricus Historical Park, and Patrick Henry delivered his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech at St. John's Episcopal Church, the site of the Second Virginia Convention. Tour Tuckahoe Plantation, Thomas Jefferson's boyhood home, or stroll along Monument Avenue, the only avenue that's designated a National Historic Landmark in the United States.

Day 1

Morning

• Virginia Capitol. Explore the second-oldest working capitol in the United States, as it was originally designed by Thomas Jefferson. Allow 1 hour for tour; additional time for Capitol Square Grounds.
• Valentine Richmond History Center. Relive more than 400 years of Richmond’s economic, social, and political history through vibrant exhibits and art collections -- along with a tour of Wickham House, a fully restored 1812 neoclassical home. Allow 1 hour for center; 1 hour for tour of Wickham House.
• Lunch at Richmond Café at Valentine.

Afternoon

• Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site. Visit this restored home in the historic Jackson Ward community. Immerse yourself in the life of a great African American woman, who was born during slavery and achieved success in the world of business and finance as the first woman in the United States to charter and serve as president of a bank. Allow 1 hour.
• Virginia Historical Society. Discover an exhibit covering all of Virginia’s history - from prehistoric times to the present. You can also view the largest display of Virginia artifacts on permanent view. Allow 1-2 hours.

Day 2

Morning

• Henricus Historical Park. Re-create early 17th-century life in the second successful English settlement and the home of Pocahontas. Enjoy living history interpreters, programs and events. Allow 1 hour.
• Chesterfield Museum Complex. Visit Magnolia Grange, an 1822 Federal-style plantation house and the Chesterfield County Museum, featuring exhibits on Native American culture and more than 250 years of county history. Allow 1 hour for Magnolia Grange and museum.

Afternoon

• St. John’s Church. Explore the oldest church in Richmond, built in 1741, the site of the Second Virginia Convention and Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. Allow two hours
• Virginia War Memorial. Pay your respect to Virginia veterans killed in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf wars. Allow 45 minutes.

Day 3

Morning

• Scotchtown. Tour the home of Patrick Henry during his most active political years. Allow one hour.
• Hanover Tavern and Courthouse. See what life on the road was like for George Washington, Patrick Henry and Lord Cornwallis at this historic roadhouse -- a stopover between Richmond and Washington from 1791 until 1836. Allow one hour.
• Lunch at Michelle’s at the Tavern after tour.

Afternoon

• Meadow Farm Museum. Step back in time at this enchanting museum, featuring a 19th-century farmhouse, barns and more than 150 acres of woodlands. Allow two hours.

Visit the sites that made the Richmond Region famous and trace 400 years of history with this wide-ranging weekend escape. Start planning your trip now!