A nation's

struggle

Civil War and Emancipation Experiences in Richmond, VA

Sites to visit - lessons to learn

For hundreds of thousands, this was the point of entry to a life as an enslaved person. For the entire region, this was the epicenter of the Civil War, the capital of the Confederacy, and the site of battles and fires that ravaged the city.

A century and a half later, the Civil War, slavery and emancipation are still the subject of intense conversation, in a region that embraces important discourse. The American Civil War Museum is a good starting point for seeing a multitude of perspectives. Walk the Richmond Slave Trail. See the historic transformation of Monument Avenue. Tour battlefields. Trace the steps of Abraham Lincoln, who visited Richmond just 10 days before his assassination. Experience this indelible era of our nation’s history from all angles. The story starts here.

Civil War Trails puts you in the footsteps of the generals, soldiers, citizens, and the enslaved Virginians who found themselves in the midst of the American Civil War.

The Road to Freedom Tour Guide highlights Virginia’s Civil War-era African American experience, encouraging visitors and Virginians alike to uncover these little-known stories of strife, growth, community, and more.

Civil War TrailsCivil War Trails puts you in the footsteps of the generals, soldiers, citizens, and the enslaved who found themselves in the midst of the American Civil War.

Freedom bumpThe Road to Freedom Tour Guide highlights Virginia’s Civil War-era African American experience, encouraging visitors and Virginians alike to uncover these little-known stories of strife, growth, community, and more.