Richmond visit

[bdtex]

I was undecided about what to do on the third day but I like @mt155 and @gentlemanrob recommendations.

About "Malvern Hill, Gaines Mill and Cold Harbor". I've not been to Malvern Hill,but I did Gaines' Mill,Cold Harbor and Cold Harbor National Cemetery thoroughly all in one morning in January 2016. There is a small Visitor Center at Cold Harbor and just the driving tour there is pretty good. Cold Harbor National Cemetery is just a bit down the road. As National Cemeteries go,it is relatively small and there are a number of nice monuments there. There is no Visitor Center or driving tour at Gaines' Mill. It's a trail walking tour but it's not a rough or particularly long walk. At this time of year,I'd go to Gaines' Mill first before the day heat climbs.

 

[jackt62]

I wish I had more time this trip but I will definitely be going back later since it's only a 7 hour drive for me. I selected Fredericksburg as my base point because it was kind of central to everything I would like to see. I want to try to see as much as I can in the time allotted but I most likely will not get to it all. I think the museums are going to be a definite and I would like to visit at least one or two of the battlefields since I can't see them all this time around. If you had to narrow it down to a couple of sites I could see in a day which would you suggest?

If Fredricksburg is the base camp, the closest sites are of course, Fredricksburg itself, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Chancellorsville. You could do a nice overview of those four in the 3 days allotted.

 

[Pollaco]

So far I haven't had the opportunity to visit Richmond. I'm hoping to some day while "Southern Visitors" are still welcome. Some of the bigger cities, even in the south, have seemed to take on an anti-confederate slant here lately.

 

[Billw12280]

I know I have very lofty goals for a 3 day visit, especially since I have a habit of finding a cool spot to reflect and I often linger longer than I should. I'll be happy if I can visit one or two battlefields but I think the Civil War Museum and The White House of the Confederacy are going to be my main focus this time around. Fredericksburg, since I'm staying there, and Chancellorsville seemed like the most logical choices for battlefields but I really wanted to try to sneak up to Manassas as well. I've been kind of like a kid going through a toy catalog circling everything I want even though I know I'll be lucky to get one or two things.

I appreciate all the other recommendations, they will be added to my list to get to sometime even if I can't see them this trip.

 

[bdtex]

I'll be happy if I can visit one or two battlefields but I think the Civil War Museum and The White House of the Confederacy are going to be my main focus this time around.

If you're gonna stick to sites in town in Richmond,Hollywood Cemetery is a pretty cool spot to reflect late in the day,especially the Jefferson Davis family plot. You can drive throughout the whole cemetery too.

 

[James N.]

If nobody else has already suggested it, the headquarters of the Virginia Historical Society has the huge and magnificent murals by Charles Hoffbauer called The Four Seasons of the Confederacy. They used to have Confederate memorabilia like Jeb Stuart's uniform and one of Lee's coats on display too, but in this age of PC I don't know if it's still there or not.

 

[Podad]

Rain sometimes dictates Battlefield or museums. I Hope you have perfect weather!

 

[James N.]

In case anyone doesn't recognize the name Charles Hoffbauer (he was a French artist who had served in WWI) or Four Seasons of the Confederacy, above is his Spring - Stonewall Jackson at the head of his Foot Cavalry. Summer is Lee and his generals and Fall is Jeb Stuart leading a cavalry charge. These are HUGE since murals cover an entire wall; unfortunately, Winter is screwed up because these are on the walls of a chamber with a single door, and it's right in the middle of Winter, which is a battery of Confederate artillery. There are also smaller side panels like the one below of John Mosby, the Gray Ghost, on a nighttime raid. The VHS headquarters museum is familiarly known as the Battle Abbey.

 

[JPChurch]

I live in Manassas. It takes me an hour to get to F'Burg, 2 hours to Richmond. That's if interstate I-95 is not backed up or trouble free. Believe me, that is very rare situation even on a weekday during the middle of the day. Route 3 and 17 may be better alternatives. You could drive up Rt 3 and see Culpeper and Orange. I could spend 3 days alone in F'Burg/Chancellorsville/Wilderness. All off Route 3.

 

[James N.]

I live in Manassas. It takes me an hour to get to F'Burg, 2 hours to Richmond. That's if interstate I-95 is not backed up or trouble free. Believe me, that is very rare situation even on a weekday during the middle of the day. Route 3 and 17 may be better alternatives. You could drive up Rt 3 and see Culpeper and Orange. I could spend 3 days alone in F'Burg/Chancellorsville/Wilderness. All off Route 3.

I was appalled at the southbound traffic we encountered on a weekday afternoon in April of last year between Manassas and F'burg! We entered the Interstate from Warrenton; any detours or alternate parallel routes around the Interstate would likely be a good idea.

 

[Jamieva]

40+ year Richmond native here. Here are some ideas.

As others have said if you are going to Tredegar, definitely go to Hollywood. They are a 5 minute drive or so between each other. If you do find some time to hit a battlefield, i would go to Gaines Mill or Cold Harbor, those 2 are basically right next to each other. The Gaines Mill walking tour is fairly short but its my favorite in the area. If you're going to stay in downtown Richmond and not do a battlefield, I would go to the White House of the Confederacy and walk around the grounds of the State Capital. All 4 of these sites are in a 5 mile radius. Just pay attention to street signs in downtown Richmond, many of the streets are one way. When you visit Tredegar, walk across the street and onto the Potterfield bridge. Potterfield is the pedestrian bridge that spans the James. It is an amazing experience and view. There is also some interpretive markers on the bridge, as well as Brown's Island, which you cross between Tredegar and the bridge.

Driving from Fredericksburg to Richmond, you go right by Guinea Station where Stonewall died. It's very close to the interstate and you can be in and out of there in less than 30 minutes if you like.

Fredericksburg I would hit Chancellorsville and the Wilderness before the actual Fredericksburg battle. More of the battlefields are preserved and they are right next to each other. They both have driving tours with many stops and of course many hiking trails. Both of these do have a lot of road noise from traffic. If you want the most serene battlefield in that area...that is Spotsylvania. Less traffic there. Hit them 1st thing in the morning and you would still have time to see the VC in Fredericksburg. Chancellorsville has a small VC as well.

I also highly recommend you download teh phone apps that the CWT has for these battlefields when you go.

You can send me a DM if you like with more questions