Taste of India/OystoberFest (October 8, 2011)

Interesting sort of day in the RVA, hit a couple of small festivals starting with the Festival of India 2011 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. While I was there, saw this car, which was last owned by one John Dillinger. He was of course a famous Indiana Depression era outlaw, and had quite a colorful history. He had this car for a long time, finally crashing it in (I believe) 1934. Later he became quite fond of Ford's (this is not one, I can't remember the brand but it is no longer made) and wrote a letter to Henry Ford. He died right after watching a movie in Chicago on July 22, 1934. He has a very interesting story, and was one of the more colorful gangsters of the day.
Festival of India was held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. I believe it is one of the oldest festivals of its time, celebrated 30 years this year. It was a cool thing, while in the USN never made it to India, but enjoyed the colorful clothing worn, the smells of the good food on hand (tis quite the food festival) and some very interesting dancing as seen here at right. A very interesting culture, and a fine and friendly people. I liked both that, and the first visit to the Greater Richmond Convention Center which is an interesting and massive place. Nice to visit this event, as a man who did a lot of flying around much of the world-we are not that far apart.
Finally, the Orderlies are seen here at OystoberFest which was held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Ginter Park. It was a first time for me both for the festival and for that area of Richmond. Had a good time, marvel both at the skill of musicians in the area, and also the fine beer selections at the festivals. Lots of good stuff besides "Miller and Bud" which is pretty cool. I also am a big fan of oysters, and the theme of this event was pretty cool. As always, nice people here and had a great time at this event.
Seeing some hints of fall here in the RVA, won't be long until this area is a blaze of color and I am looking forward to it. Hope to bring some of that in my next post here. Thanks for visiting this page!

In NC (August 20-23, 2011) with an Earthshaking Return to VA.

Took this photo of the Old Cabarrus County Courthouse on Union Street in Concord, NC on August 20. Had a nice visit to my home over an extended weekend, though did get a bit of a bug apparently so was not as active as I hope to be when I am home. Got the motorcycle in the shop, it broke down during my last trip, and now I do on this one. Got better though on the last day, and a good trip even with that. Found that Claritin is pretty good stuff. Got better enough to cut the yard and do some trimming. Not a big weekend though did see most of the race. Winner of that race Kyle Busch did get his license suspended in NC, bit of thing with a sports car over 100 mph in a nearby town. Still will get to race though, and is the current points leader.

Came back to Virginia on the 23rd, getting back to the apartment around 1pm. At 1:51 PM, experienced my first real earthquake. A 5.8 magnitude quake hit the area. I was surprised at both the noise and the force, it was a remarkable event. Thankfully, the damage was not too severe, mostly minor in the area. It was felt in number of states, and did some damage to the Washington Monument (along with some other buildings) in Washington, DC.

I have some interesting stuff coming up, plan to do some exploring in the Richmond area this weekend, and have a really nice event coming up very soon. Thanks for visiting my page.

Richmond on the Last Day in July (July 31, 2011)

Have not spent a long time wandering Richmond lately, due to circumstances, but did today. Took the photo at right at Rocketts Landing in Richmond, very nice area of the city with a new place (its further below). Its a high dollar area of the city with some pretty pricy condos and apartments in what is an up and coming area of the city. Have been surprised that Richmond being a river town makes so little use as far as businesses of its river view; but now as I learned this weekend there are now three places where you can enjoy the view: Legends, The Boathouse (at Rocketts Landing) and also now Conch Republic (photo below).

Got two photos here from Shockoe Bottom. Very neat part of town, but also areas that get a lot of grief from the police. All sorts of warnings there about traveling in groups, but never have had any problems there. Not sure if it is because I am careful or lucky. 17th Street Market is interesting, but never seen anything of interest there. Do like the Canal Cruise there though have yet to take the cruise (but while I am here, I will). Richmond put a lot of money into that project, not sure it has really paid off in the way the investment planned. That happens though.

Photo of the building in Shockoe Bottom is the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, posted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777. In 1786 the Virginia Assembly made it state law. It is one of the three achievements in his life that Thomas Jefferson had put on his tomb. It was the foundation of separation of church and state in the US, and for those who worship the thoughts of the founding fathers, a message to those who would make this nation a Christian republic.
The last photo is of Conch Republic, a new place at Rocketts Landing in Richmond. Nice place and has very nice happy hour prices. Food prices from what I saw were very high, but a good Sunday crowd, and I hope this place makes it...I can easily see myself coming by there again and again. Liked the music, the view, and the service was very good.
Nice time in Richmond on a less than it has been hot sunday in the city, and looking forward to the next one. This is a very interesting city.

Richmond International Airport, June 25, 2011

While at the Virginia Aviation Museum (see previous post) I also made a visit to Richmond International Airport. The airport, which I read is the busiest airport in Virginia, is located in Sandston, Va, some five miles East of Richmond. The airport was started as Richard Evelyn Byrd Flying Field in 1927. Among those present for the opening of the airport was Charles Lindbergh. The area had an even earlier history, some military balloons of the Civil War (the earliest use of military aviation in the US) were flown from nearby fields according to some accounts I have read. The airport has changed and grown greatly since its opening in 1927.
The airport is very open and airy as befits a place where people take to the sky. There are a number of shops just short of the boarding checkpoints, the usual airport assortment of restaurants and bookstores. Good waiting area for people there waiting for arriving or departing flights. The airport had a few cars on display, and was very clean. It was a light travel time when I was there, though there were a few people heading for flights. I think the biggest year for the airport was in 2007 when some 3,634, 544 flew out or into the airport. However, that data may not be totally accurate, though I think the recession has impacted it.
As seen in here, very open area. I like the high roof and the impression of it is very positive. The new terminal was dedicated in July 30, 2007. Eight airlines (American, Delta, JetBlue, AirTran, United, US Airways, Continental, and Air Canada) serve the airport. Local business leaders (in fact I watched the commercial on tv tonight) have been making a push to have more people fly the lower cost airlines as there is some concern they will cut back service to the airport if not cancel it outright. Richmond International once had some of the highest fares in the region, and that could well happen again.
Seen here is the control tower for the airport. In addition to passenger traffic, the airport also has a large number of cargo flights. The airport provides a lot of economic impact to the region, and is a major source of jobs and job attraction to Richmond and the surrounding areas.
Airports draw businesses to an area, and air service is an important part of that attraction. Being able to fly in cargo and commodities is also important to a community. Not everything is hauled by truck, or train, and many businesses depend on air service.
I enjoyed by visit to the airport, which is my second since I have been here.

SouthPark Mall, and Bike Shops Nearby (May 21, 2011)

As I feared, photos kind of got mixed up, but got in a good day in the Colonial Heights area. Seen at left is Commonwealth Power Sports, which is in Colonial Heights. It is a Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki dealer. It is also a rather large one, and has a good selection of motorcycles, as well as some ATV's, and some watercraft (jet ski type boats). They also have a parts and service department and a good line of accessories for those vehicles. Good friendly staff from what I have seen, liked that they let you wander around without hassles which is nice. I had a good time there in what is my second visit to the dealership, I was there last year.
I also made my second visit to Colonial Harley-Davidson, which is nearby (within sight of Commonwealth Power Sports). A very nice Harley-Davidson dealer, they have a very nice selection (the best I have seen in the area to date) of Harley-Davidsons. They can be quite pricy in comparison to the Japanese models, with one (a CVO HD with a 110 Cubic Inch "Screaming Eagle" Engine package) coming in a bit over $32,000 dollars. It was a beautiful motorcycle, but a bit pricy for me. However, Harley owners are a special breed, and they have a "money is no object" attitude when it comes to their Harley-Davidson motorcycles!
Here is another view of Colonial Harley-Davidson. Harley had all its dealerships upgrade a few years ago to more modern designs. Some in Richmond are older type dealerships (such as Richmond Harley-Davidson on Hull Street) though I noticed today that they seem to be building a new HD dealership there (but will be some time before it opens). The current dealership there is in a strip mall store. There are some impressive HD dealers in the US, some with some very unique designs. A few years ago they were mostly clothing stores it seemed, with a handful of bikes, that has changed in the last few years as production has increased. Now most have a good selection of bikes.
Seen here is a photo I took inside SouthPark Mall which is just off of I-95 in Colonial Heights. I have gone past it many times between North Carolina and Richmond, and finally made a stop in there today. Very nice mall, with a good military crowd that comes in there as the mall is very close to Ft. Lee. Nice mall with a nice selection of stores, very well lit with lights and also a lot of light from the sun. It has a lot of stores all around it too, kind of reminded me of the Concord Mills complex with all the little strip malls around it, in Concord, NC. I am not a big shopper but enjoyed exploring the mall for a bit, and that today was my first stop in today's exploration.
Last photo here is something I have been looking for. One of the all new bikes this year is the Honda CBR250R. Takes some nice styling cues from its bigger brother (the Honda VFR1200) and gives the Kawasaki Ninja 250 some competition. It also matches that bike in price. Many motorcycles do not get all that great gas mileage, this bike however does, and would be a fun motorcycle to commute to work with, or for fun rides down some beautiful roads in Carolina or Virginia. For a good economical motorcycle, this bike could be a very good choice. Honda makes some reliable motorcycles, I have had a couple over the years and have loved them!

Petersburg National Battlefield (April 16)

After the massive storms of Saturday April 16 (which spawned tornadoes in both North Carolina and Virginia, killing many) awoke on Sunday April 17 to a day of blue skies. I went to Petersburg National Battlefield with two friends to see the site of the Civil War siege (which was the longest recorded on American soil). The battle lasted from June 9, 1864-March 25, 1865. Old Blandford Church, just outside the battlefield has buried among others some 30,000 Confederate Soldiers. Its windows are memorials to the states of the Confederacy and were done by Lewis Comfort Tiffany. The church was built in 1735.
Some 150,000 soldiers from both sides faced off against each other during the battle. The lines were some 30 miles long in all, and were heavily defended. At left is seen a recreation at the battlefield of what assaulting troops would have faced. Cannon, riflemen, and wooden defenses designed to defeat enemy assaults against the positions were highly effective. Union troops always greatly outnumbered the Confederate forces, but the lines held until the Confederates were defeated at the Battle of Five Forks which opened up the cities of Richmond and Petersburg to the Union Army. Following that battle the end to the Civil War was just a few days away.
Both the forces and Petersburg were bombarded by guns such as these from the Union forces. This weapon I read could launch a 215 pound shell for a distance of some two miles. Soldiers of both sides endured such weapons, snipers, disease, starvation (in the case of the poorly supplied Confederate forces), and other dangers. Many of them lived in small buildings as the Confederate forces and the cities were starved out in what General Robert E. Lee knew was only a matter of time. Both General Grant and General Lee knew the Siege would be effective. An offensive to break the Union Line at Petersburg was the last major offensive of the war for Lee's troops.
Seen here are one of the actual defensive positions of the battlefield. Gone are the wooden supports, and other defensive items seen in the photos of old; now they are little more than grass covered earthworks. Loss of life during the final campaign was heavy on both sides, as was the number of injured. Due to the weapons used, many of the injured lost arms and legs after being wounded. Richmond was the site of one of the largest Confederate hospitals in the Civil War, and had a much better than average (though still terrible) survival rate for wounded soldiers. Richmond was also the sites of two Civil War prisons.
Near the battlefield is Blandford Cemetery. It's oldest graves date to 1702 and among its many thousands of dead include soldiers from the Revolutionary War and other wars (including the previously mentioned Confederates in the first paragraph). This cemetery was the site of the first Memorial Day in the US which was held there in June of 1866.
This was my second visit to the battlefield and the cemetery. Few places have as much Civil War history in one area as Richmond, VA does...a terrible period in American history when brother fought against brother and so many gave all they had during that war.

Old Petersburg, VA at 7AM on a Saturday Morning

Went back to Carolina this weekend, had a wonderful time with the family, although it rained all weekend (so not much frisbee with the dogs, and no motorcycling there). Of big note this weekend, VCU will be playing in the NCAA Final Four having beat Kansas tonight in an amazing run in the tournament. As for me, on the way to Carolina made a morning stop in Petersburg, VA. Section seen in these photos is called the Old Towne. Located 23 miles from Richmond, Petersburg dates its history to the early days of America. In the Civil War (as it was before) it was a major transportation area both by water, and later by train. The building seen at left is the Old Courthouse which was built between 1837-1839. During the 9 month Siege of Petersburg the clock on this tower was used to keep time by both armies. Many of the building date to the Civil War and many even before that in this very interesting section of town. I thought the early morning would be a good time to get a few photos, even under the cloudy skies. Rain held off for me, did not run into that until I got further on down the highway.
As I noted many old buildings can be found there. The streets in this section are largely old cobblestone. Many of the buildings house businesses and even apartments. I have wondered some around there in the past and there is a lot to see, including some old museums of the Siege, and there is a lot of historical information to be found. The Visitor Center is nearby and has a lot of information on the area. There is also a Farmers Market (which is in a big round building nearby, and the remains of the rail yard which also dates to the Civil War period. In past visits have seen many items of interest in this section of town.
Again, another view of the Old Towne Section, the Old Courthouse can be seen at the end of the alley off in the distance. Many other cites (including some from the Revolutionary War) can be seen in the area. I have also been to the Petersburg National Battlefield which is easily one of the finest battlefields (and best preserved) in the Richmond area. It is a fun area to explore if you enjoy both history and old buildings, and there is also some interesting places to visit and spend a few dollars in this area. Some older photos of the area can be found in some previous posts, and I also have a few photos on my Photo Page from the visit on March 26.
The history of this region makes it a very interesting place both to live and explore, and there is a lot to see in and around Richmond and the surrounding area. I am looking for some fun times, and more neat discoveries here in 2011, and sure I will come across many.

Spring 2011: Forest Hill Park

First day of Spring, and its about time. Winter in Richmond was not all that bad-certainly a big improvement over last winter (which was frankly pretty bad) but glad to see Spring here at last. It is a great and favorite time of year, and have enjoyed seeing the trees in bloom (mostly I believe Bradford Pears and Dogwoods here in Richmond). Nice to enjoy the season and to relax with a Sunday morning walk in Forest Hill Park. One of the oldest parks in Richmond I believe, and a real jewel. It has had a lot of work done to it in the last year or so, and a great many improvements have been made to this park. Seemed like a good place to walk on this day.
Walking at Forest Hill can be a good adventure. It features some steep climbs, but this is a good thing for a work out. Some people get gym memberships, but I enjoy a good walk outside in the air. There were a lot of people out, though being early not as many as I often see there walking, riding bikes, jogging, playing with dogs, and just generally doing the same thing I was. Got a lot of "hello there" greetings. I am always impressed on how friendly Richmond people are, and that is a nice thing on a Sunday morning, first day of Spring day. Perfect blue skies and a quiet urban park, it does not get any better than this. Have been getting over some kind of cold bug that has been going around work, so felt good for the first day in quite a few days to feel like getting out. Work has been a bear this week with that, so fits that the first day of spring I would feel good and be ready to get a good walk in among the beauty to be found there. I like a lot of parks in Richmond, which is blessed with some fine ones, but this in my opinion is the best of the best in the city.

Forest Hill Park has a trail which runs along a creek by the lake, and its really nice. Got a lot of big rocks there, and there are a lot of bicyclists who ride that trail (and a few of them went by me). I am not one of those people who dislike bicyclists; in fact I think its a great and very smart way both to get a workout in, and to commute (if possible for that matter). Though my favorite two wheel way to go ride now has a engine and Kawasaki on the side, I remember riding a few years ago, and have given some though to getting back into it again. Especially with the price of gasoline and the impact of those vehicles on the environment it sounds better and better. Very interested in electric bicycles but I am rambling here; that is for another post. Got to check out that electric Leaf last week (previous post) and that really has me thinking about the future. Going to a place like Forest Hill Park, you realize what a special and fragile thing this world really is; nothing at all like it at least in this solar system- and its the only game we have. If we mess this up, we are pretty well screwed.
View here is the restored and very beautiful lake at Forest Hill Park. I like going by there, watched a guy for a time playing with his dog in the lake. He would throw a stick, and the dog would catch it. He and the dog were having a blast, I like to play with my dogs in North Carolina, and look forward to doing that again very soon.
Was nice being out. Got my mind off of problems with the "gas billing company" at the apartment complex NWP Services Corporation. Weather has been warm (for winter) and I have not run the heat, but someone has and I got a bill for the "heat" this month. Pisses me off knowing I have not used it, and getting ripped off by the corporation. For the apartment complex it is easier for them, for the residents it often means questionable bills. Not meter reading, just "you owe this." My advice is that if you find when renting apartments that they use a "service" such as NWP Services Corporation run...don't walk...out the door and find another place to live. You will be glad you did.

Picasso Exhibit at the VMFA (March 5,2011)

Special day, in that my wife Patty made the trip up from Charlotte, NC to spend the weekend here. Always fun to take her out and show off this unique city, and we have a fun two days planned. Yesterday, we had tickets to the Picasso exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. That is one of my favorite places to visit in Richmond, and I have been a number of times. Normally free except for special events (such as the Picasso exhibit) tickets ran $20 each to see the works of this remarkable artist. The display covered all the different periods and styles he worked in during his long and very productive life. The crowd came from all over the US.
I noted the diversity of the crowd and had a lot of time to do that, because the line (as seen in the photo at left, and only partly seen at that, as it was much longer) took a good solid hour to get to the exhibit. Still though, as promised heard a number of languages in the crowd, and met some interesting people. As Patty noted in the course of the day, and I have a number of times, Richmond crowds and people are among the friendliest that we have come across in a number of places. It was a very fun event, and we enjoyed checking it out and can suggest it as an interesting thing to see. Unless you get to Paris, France where these are displayed; you may never see its like again!
Of course, the museum is normally free (and still is if you want to bypass Picasso) with just hours and hours of interesting things. Patty and I wandered and saw many (but not all) items in the museum such as this marble fixture which was in a garden in India around the mid-1700's. There is a wide variety of things to see at the VMFA and we enjoyed our visit there. I have posted a few more photos on the photo page from our visit there. The museum also have a very good web site with more information on the museum, as well as info on the Picasso display. That will be in Richmond for a limited time, and I believe this is the only city on the east coast showing it.
Following the museum, we stopped for food, refreshment, and some fine music at the Cary Street Cafe, located not far from the VMFA. One of my favorite places to stop and found by me not long ago, it is a nice place with friendly people. I like the vibes there, and have always have a very good time. Said to be "Richmond's oldest Hippie Bar", it is a fun place to relax, kick back, and enjoy yourself with some fine people.
Spent the rest of the afternoon exploring some around Church Hill and downtown seeing some of the sights. Patty noted that she enjoys seeing the older buildings in Richmond, which is not just a rare but nonexistent sight in Charlotte. It was a very fun and interesting day, and we had a great time, with another day to come this afternoon!

Along the Midlothian Turnpike

Went out on February 23 to get a few things done. While out, figured I would visit a few places on an early Wednesday morning. One of my stops was the Chesterfield Towne Center. I like this mall (though did see that they have replaced the Peace Frog store with another, a favorite of my wife when she comes to visit here). Photo at left is the food court. They have some good places to eat, and of course the big Barnes and Noble store is there. I wonder how long bookstores will exist; Borders is closing a number of stores and not sure how the others are doing. I like to visit them though, another I like is Books a Million which is further up the road near 288.
Got a kick out of this, took a walk though the Garden Ridge store at the Chesterfield Towne Center. I think everyone needs a suit of armor, and at left are three. Lots of interesting things to check out in there, and if the one in North Carolina is any indication, this is a great store to visit around Christmas time. It is more seasonable now though with a lot of garden and outdoor items, as spring is just around the corner. Weather has been sort of wacky, warm days followed by cooler ones, even some snow flurries following a few warm (mid-70's) and windy days. Still the signs of spring are in the air, and it won't be long till winter is a memory.
Took this photo during a walk on February 21 following a good weekend; some of those photos are on the previous post. Milepost 5 brown building) was a seafood place in a former older business (closed since I have been here) that opened last fall. Sometime in the last few weeks; Milepost 5 closed. Never got to find out if it was any good. What is good is the $3 Car Wash. Went there today actually, and got the car cleaned. I like it; its cheap, its fast, and the vac is included with no time limit. For the price you can't beat it, plus it does a good job. That was one of the things that I did today. Had a good time out in the area; lots of interesting things here to see and do. As can be noted in the photo, there was quite a breeze on the 21st when I took my walk along the Midlothian Turnpike. Hope everyone has a great day!

Downtown Richmond/Church Hill

Beautiful warm but very windy day in Richmond, when I went out to see some old favorite places, as well as some new ones. One of the new ones is seen at left; Richmond Dairy Company Apartments in downtown Richmond. Very different sort of building, and one of the many buildings that have been re-developed in the city. Richmond makes great use of its old buildings, and does not tear them down when they are "done" but finds other uses for them. Much like my former city of Louisville, Kentucky, but much unlike Charlotte, NC which does not have very many old buildings. In fact in Charlotte even newer old buildings don't last long.
Near Church Hill/Shockoe Bottom is the Church Hill train tunnel. Built in the 1870's, in 1925 it collapsed. Buried in the tunnel are four men, one 4-4-0 Steam Locomotive, and 10 flat cars. Due to damage and flooding the bodies and the train were left in the tunnel where they remain to this day. Also seen is a walking/bike trail along the James at Shockoe Bottom. Nice trail, and nice view of the river there. Very interesting area to explore and I like going there when I can, though this was my first time to see this path. Everytime I wander the city, I see something new.
Row of buildings again are a number of old buildings (including some old tobacco factories) that have been put to new uses as offices, condos and apartments. That can also be found in the Shockoe Bottom area of Richmond. Last view is from Libby Park in Church Hill, one of my favorite places with great views of the River, nice views of the city, and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. That is where I ended the days exploration of the city.















Had a great time, always something new and interesting to see, have a few more photos from the sights of today at my Photo Page which is linked to this page.

Hopewell and City Point (February 6, 2011)

Had a work related place to locate near Hopewell (upcoming forklift training) and always enjoy visiting Hopewell, VA. Its City Point section is the oldest part (founded in 1613). Hopewell was established in 1914 when DuPont built a dynamite and gun cotton factory there. The Beacon Theater in Hopewell was open from 1928-1981, but was restored in 1987. It is now used in other ways (especially it seems from visiting its web site for wedding receptions), but it a neat looking old theater. Hopewell has a very old look and feel, and there are a number of factories in the area. Nice to explore it, and very quiet on a winter Sunday in February.

Appomattox Plantation seen here has been (I believe) been re-painted since my last visit to City Point. Now part of Hopewell, it was the original town. During its founding, its location at the meeting of the James and Appomattox Rivers made it a major port in Virginia. This old house is not named for the surrender site (which is near Lynchburg, VA) but for its site on the river (guess they did not want to call it the James House....had a choice after all). Kitchen and storage were outside of the main house. Often you can tour this house, though not on this Super Bowl Sunday..it was all locked up for the Sunday. Still nice to see this fine house.
Less fine is this building, which was General US Grant's Headquarters during the Siege of Petersburg. The cabin was one of 22 on the site, but the only one preserved. That preservation included replacing some of the worn wood, so only a percentage seen here is the actual material used in the cabin. The front room was his office, and he had some rather spartan quarters in the back half. His family spent some time with him there, and President Abe Lincoln also visited with him there. The cabin was built to replace tents when it became evident that the conquest of Petersburg and Richmond would be a long hard and bloody siege.
This is a view of the Appomattox and James Rivers, and why it was such an important port. Many operations to support the Union Army were conducted there, and for a time during the period of June 9, 1864 to April 2, 1865 City Point was the busiest port in the world. Today it is much more peaceful, especially on a quiet Sunday. There are many buildings in the little town section of City Point which date to the Civil War, and they are marked with informational plaques on the buildings and often times nearby. On this day, fishing seemed to be a popular pastime on what was a very nice day. I have a few more area photos on my photo page.
On the way back from Hopewell, heading toward Chester, VA I snapped this photo of these motorcyclists enjoying a very fine winter Sunday in Virginia. There were a lot of motorcyclists out; you have to grab those days when you can. My motorcycle is in North Carolina at the house (have to keep it someplace) but I was with them in thought anyhow (though actually was in the Nissan). It is a great sport and a lot of fun, especially when the sun is shining, and the temperature is up a bit. Not just for the sights of today, it was a real fine afternoon to be out exploring in Virginia.

An American Turning Point (February 5, 2011)

On a rainy day in Richmond, nothing better than to visit one of the many fine museums in this city, and few are as fine as the Virginia Historical Society. That museum has a long history having been founded in 1831. Its first president was John Marshall, and its first member was James Madison...a good start indeed leadership wise. I went to see the exhibit "An American Turning Point-The Civil War in Virginia. This year is the 150th anniversary of that terrible war. Few wars are as violent as a Civil War, and the US Civil War was especially bloody. Richmond and Virginia was the center of that conflict with a great number of engagements happening here.
The items above were actually used in that period, as well as the gun below (which was last used in war by its owner...General J.E.B. Stewart). Over 200 objects and some 17 audiovisual displays tell the story of the Civil War in the state and in the city. It was a fine display and just opened February 4. It will continue at the museum until December 30. A great feature of the museum is that it is admission free. These photos seen here, can be seen in larger versions in addition to some other photos taken in the museum (there is much more to see there) on my Photo Page, of which there is a link on this site. I have visited this museum a number of times in the two years I have been here, and I am sure that I will be returning in the future as well.