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Museums & Attractions

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
On May 1, 2010, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts re-opened its doors after the completion of a 5-year, $150 expansion. The expansion increased gallery space by nearly 50 percent, making room for more than 5,000 years of art and special-exhibition space. In its new form, the VMFA stands among the top 10 comprehensive art museums in the nation. The expansion’s centerpiece is the James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Wing. At the heart of the new wing is the Louis B. and J. Harwood Cochrane Atrium, which provides a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding Victorian Fan neighborhood and serves as a nexus between the new and old buildings. The fine dining Amuse Restaurant offers guests cocktails and small plates, while the more casual BEST Café offers gourmet pizzas, panini and salads. Admission to the VMFA is free.

The VMFA expansion was designed by London-based Rick Mather Architects in partnership with Richmond architectural firm, SMBW. The project is the first major U.S. commission for Mather, an American who has designed striking modern additions to a number of Great Britain’s most venerable cultural institutions.

The Fed Experience
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond recently unveiled The Fed Experience, an interactive, multimedia exhibit designed to bring the economy to life. Featuring real-life stories from Federal Reserve employees, their families and people in communities the Richmond Fed serves, the exhibit helps visitors understand how stable prices over time affect living standards.

The Fed Experience provides economic education and offers a way build understanding between the Fed's role in the economy and the choices people make in "Main Street" America — from a student deciding to save his allowance to an entrepreneur deciding to start her own business. The Fed Experience appeals to visitors of all ages and is especially useful for middle-school students because of its connection to Virginia's Standards of Learning. The material also aligns with national learning standards and can be an online resource for schools. The website (www.thefedexperience.org) provides classroom tools for teachers beyond Richmond. The exhibit is free and is open weekdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., except on Federal holidays.

CenterStage
Richmond CenterStage Performing Arts Complex in the heart of downtown Richmond opened its doors in the fall of 2009. The 179,000-square foot facility welcomes talent from around the world inspiring audiences of all ages and includes three performance venues, a visual arts gallery and an innovative education facility. The fully renovated, historic Carpenter Theatre has nearly 1,800 comfortable, spacious seats, state-of-the-art acoustics and brilliant lighting, including new fiber optics that enhance the ceiling’s sparkling stars. Multiple floors provide an array of new venues including Rhythm Hall, which features local performing artists and an array of activities, concerts and community gatherings; the Showcase Gallery, a visual arts venue where audiences can gather before or after a show; and Gottwald Playhouse, a 200-seat theatre perfect for local performances. Located on the third floor is the Genworth BrightLights Education Center which provides classrooms, rehearsal space and a state-of-the-art digital center for students. The complex offers performances by the Richmond Symphony, the Richmond Ballet, Broadway in Richmond and the Virginia Opera.

Virginia War Memorial
An expansion is underway at the Virginia War Memorial, which honors more than 11,600 Virginians who sacrificed their lives in World War II and subsequent conflicts. The Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center, scheduled for completion this fall, will add 17,300 square feet and will include a theater to display the memorial’s “Virginians at War” film series, a remodeled outdoor amphitheater and room to make the memorial’s research library accessible to the public. Plans are also under way to honor Virginians who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Road to Revolution Heritage Trail
The Road to Revolution Heritage Trail, which links historic sites in Virginia that interpret the life of Patrick Henry, now features new interpretive signage to educate visitors about the life of the orator of the American Revolution and Virginia’s first governor. The Road to Revolution is comprised of 10 sites that played a key role in shaping the values and intellect of Patrick Henry. Sites along the trail in the Richmond Region include: St. John’s Church, the site of Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech; Scotchtown, Henry’s home from 1771 -1778; Hanover Tavern, where Henry lived and studied; and Hanover Courthouse, where Henry began his public career.

Historic Route 1
Visitors headed to the Richmond Region can now find historic landmarks, diners and other roadside wonders along Historic Route 1 in Virginia with the new web site, www.HistoricRouteOne.com. The website, which continues to add content, will eventually incorporate information about this historic east coast highway in additional states, spanning from Maine to Florida.

Sports & Outdoor Fun

Kings Dominion
Kings Dominion now offers thrill addicts and adrenalin junkies the ride of their lives with the Intimidator 305. As only the second Giga-coaster ever built in North America, Intimidator 305 is the tallest and fastest roller coaster of its type on the East Coast. The 5,100-foot long, $25-million steel roller coaster rises 305 feet and descends 300 feet at an 85-degree angle with passenger trains traveling more than 90 mph. The ride is named after NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt and will have trains fashioned after Earnhardt’s signature black car.

Flying Squirrels
Sports fans are celebrating the return of minor league baseball to the Richmond Region. The Class AA Flying Squirrels, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, made The Diamond home for their inaugural 2010 season. In addition, two new indoor football teams, the Richmond Revolution and the Richmond Raiders, began playing at local arenas this spring.

Virginia Capital Trail
Virginia Capital Trail, the pedestrian and bicycle trail linking the Richmond Region to Jamestown and Williamsburg, has three completed phases. In Richmond, it begins at 17th and Dock streets behind the floodwall, going a half mile to Great Shiplock Park. Seven miles are complete in Charles City County, beginning at the historic Courthouse and heading west. There are also eight miles open in James City County between the Chickahominy Riverfront Park and the Jamestown Settlement Center. The 55-mile trail is expected to be completed by 2013.

New & Updated Hotels

Be sure to check out the new and updated hotels throughout the Richmond Region!

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