As the country commemorates the 150th anniversaries of the Civil War and Emancipation, travelers are looking for opportunities to learn about the conflict that divided the nation.
As the former capital of the Confederacy and a center of the nation’s slave trade, Richmond, Virginia offers a wealth of Civil War and Emancipation experiences that can help Americans better understand its shared history.
On the third annual Civil War and Emancipation Day, April 14, visitors are invited to enjoy a day of special events with free entry into nearly 30 sites and attractions, and free transportation between the sites.
From discussions with leading Civil War scholars to guided tours of historic Richmond sites, cannon firings to children's games, song and dance performances to canal boat rides, Civil War & Emancipation Day provides a wonderful opportunity to explore Confederate, Union and African-American history as well as history about life on the home front during the war.
Additional activities include a marketplace, special exhibits, artifact washing, and mingling with historic interpreters. Guests will have the opportunity to visit attractions such as the Virginia State Capitol, Museum of the Confederacy, Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia and American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, the first museum in the U.S. to explore the war through three interwoven perspectives: Union, Confederate and African-American. Guided tours of the Richmond Slave Trail will be available and participants can tour on wheels by taking a Segway ride.
Civil War and Emancipation Day is produced by Future of Richmond’s Past, a collaborative effort among leaders of Richmond's historical societies, museums, commissions, cultural and tourism organizations, and educational institutions to frame Richmond during the 150th commemoration.
Visit Richmond for more information.
For more information about top events in Virginia take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Virginia.