Richmond Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Richmond

After settling Jamestown in 1607, several expeditions up the James River led to an interest in the area inhabited by the Powhatan Nation. But the first European settlements didn’t come for more than a hundred years when in 1737, planter William Byrd II had the original town grid laid out.

He named the town “Richmond” after an English town. He felt the view of the James River was similar to the view of the River Thames from Richmond Hill, near London. It was incorporated in 1742.

The town had a starring role in nearly all early US events. Patrick Henry gave his famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech here in 1775. The city was attacked and burned by the British during the Revolutionary War in 1781, forcing then-Governor Thomas Jefferson to flee.

But the city recovered quickly afterward, and Jefferson designed a new capitol building. It’s a beautiful structure that is used to this day as the capitol of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Standing in the center of Capitol Square, it is a must-see sight in Richmond.

Richmond again played a pivotal role in the American Civil War as the capital of the Confederacy. The American Civil War Museum and the White House of the Confederacy are great stops to learn more about this period in Richmond’s past.

Today the city is a vibrant river-front town with lots of history to explore and things to do. Don’t miss Carytown, a boutique shopping and dining experience, along with the restored Byrd Theater, a 1920’s movie palace. Nearby Byrd Park is a great place to walk and enjoy the view of the James River, as is the neighboring Maymont estate and gardens. If you love history, don’t miss The Valentine, Richmond’s oldest museum, or the Hollywood Cemetery, where thousands of Civil War-era soldiers and several US presidents lie in rest.

Richmond has something for everyone, so put on your walking shoes and take a tour of this beautiful city.