Richmond: Civil War & Emancipation

The American Civil War - The Story Starts Here

Richmond was the Capital of the Confederacy, a commercial center for the slave trade, and the site of several major battles - in fact, the entire downtown was burned to the ground, days before Abraham Lincoln walked the streets. Richmond, Virginia was "ground zero" during the Civil War. This makes it a rich and powerful region to tour, and the ideal place to begin a multi-state Civil War and Emancipation immersion.

Look through our itineraries to plan your experience. You can start at the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar. Tour the Museum of the Confederacy, the Manchester Slave Trail and numerous battlefields. Walk in the steps of Lincoln. See the war from the perspectives of Confederate, Union and African Americans.

This is a place where the Civil War and Emancipation are remembered and carefully studied, and where stories and sites are preserved for each new generation. As the 19th century's Union troops cried on their conquest, "On to Richmond!"