Richmond History, Virginia

Richmond History – First Settlers

There are few cities in the United States with such a long and glorious past as Richmond, Virginia. The first Europeans to settle on the banks of the James River, where Richmond stands today, arrived in the early 17th century and met the Powhatan Indians, who had been living, hunting and raising crops in the area for centuries. There were several attempts to built forts along the river, but none of them lasted, as the Powhatans launched constant attacks against the fort garrisons. It was only in 1673 when William Byrd I was given the territory around James Falls. His heir, William Byrd II, marks the first paragraph in Richmond’s history, as the town’s founder and godfather. In 1737, he decided to name the newly established settlement Richmond, as the view over James River, reminded him of the Richmond district, near London.

Richmond History – The American Revolution and the Civil War

Richmond played a crucial role during the Independence War: it was the place where the “Liberty or death” speech was delivered by Patrick Henry. Also, Richmond became Virginia’s temporary capital during the war, because the state’s original capital, Williamsburg, was situated in a less tactical position (for more information on Williamsburg, see the Williamsburg Travel Guide and Williamsburg History articles). Virginia State Capitol building, Richmond’s most important historical landmark, also dates from the American Revolution and was designed by Thomas Jefferson himself. By the beginning of the 19th century, Richmond was a thriving community. The construction of the James River and Kanawha Canal helped commerce prosper, making Richmond one of the biggest manufacturing centers in the US. Richmond was also a strategic location in the slave commerce: in 1848, a man tried to escape slavery by traveling from Richmond to Philadelphia in a wooden box – Henry Box Brown is known legend. During the Civil War, Richmond had an important role as a confederate town. As the last bastion of the confederate army, Richmond was burnt down by the retreating army of General Lee. Immediately after the war ended, President Abraham Lincoln paid a visit in Richmond, in order to consolidate his position.

Richmond History – Modern Richmond

During the 20th century, Richmond history was to a lesser extent dramatic: the city continued to grow, adding new neighborhoods and diversifying its economic activities. In the early 1900s, Richmond was one of the most densely populated cities of the nation, and the first city to have a woman bank president, represented by Maggie L. Walker an African-American business woman. During the last years, the restoration of the James-Kanawha Canal was finished, giving a new boost to the downtown business with over 2 kilometers of new residences, shops and restaurants.

email to a friendAsk our travel experts a question about Richmond
ask now

Things about Richmond you may be interested in

Be the first who requests a site listing for this page.

 

+ list your site

 

ReviewsTravel TipsWrite a reviewWrite a travel tip

 

 

Read our members' reviews about Richmond

No reviews have been added yet for this category. Be the first to add a new one.

 

Read our members' travel tips about Richmond

No travel tips have been added yet for this category. Be the first to add a new one.

 

 

Community

Members Who Have Been to Richmond

See who has been to Richmond and ask them a question (membership required)

vkismith ask a question add to friends

cheaptravel32 ask a question add to friends

dzija ask a question add to friends

mjensen110 ask a question add to friends

 

show all

 

 

the best travel deals provided by TravelZoo...