Stopped in Richmond

[vmicraig]

I was back home in VA to check on my rental home and took my son to several places he's been reading about in the "Virginia Mysteries" series - kind of a modern day Hardy Boys series set totally in VA. Most of the mysteries encountered occur in Richmond at locations like St. John's church, Hollywood Cemetery, the Jefferson Hotel, Tredegar, Belle Island, etc.
It was fun showing him the locations he's only read about, as he was too young to remember them when we lived here. Much of our time was spent in Hollywood cemetery and learning about the significant role of Virginians in the Civil War.

We had a great day until I took a drive down Monument Ave - so sad what they've done to this once beautiful promenade. So sad and depressing how the PC culture has destroyed the wonderful historical monuments that once defined so much of the beautiful avenue that ran through the middle of town. Last 2 pics pertain.

 

[UCVRelics]

Looks like a Great trip UNTIL, That's disgusting

 

[dlavin]

For the record i liked the post and photos but I am not liking the graphitti

 

[BehindTheLinesInNoVA]

Many thanks for your pictures, @vmicraig - your boy looks about the same age as mine, and it warms my heart to see him there at Hollywood. You visited our favorite spots there as well - that funereal pyramid always moves us, and General Pickett's grave and the mass unknown graves of the Gettysburg vets. Have to say though my kids both love to see the loyal iron dog keeping watch over the little girl who died of scarlet fever in 1862. There are local ghost stories about it coming alive, or growling at those who get too close to it. Most of the info online is fanciful - here is a decent blurb.

I walked Monument Avenue, once one of America's most beautiful streets, the day before the out-of-state crew pulled down Stonewall Jackson near the Valentine. I remember taking my wife's family from Europe down the avenue 12 years ago, and they marveled not only at its architectural and aesthetic beauty (the homes, the cobblestones, the leafy promenades and the radiant statuary circles), but that more than 120 years ago the American polity was magnanimous enough to allow the defeated foe to honor its dead heroes, even as they reforged their ties to the rapidly changing national government.

When I took my wife back there three months ago, and she saw what it had become - barren pedestals, graffiti, needles, garbage everywhere, t-shirt vendors, etc - she burst into tears and asked to leave.

 

[redbob]

It appears to have been (for the most part) a very enjoyable day that you all will long remember. BTW, the young lady in the picture is giving you the same look that my wife gives me when I take her to some place of historical interest, especially when it is freezing outside.

 

[vmicraig]

It appears to have been (for the most part) a very enjoyable day that you all will long remember. BTW, the young lady in the picture is giving you the same look that my wife gives me when I take her to some place of historical interest, especially when it is freezing outside.

Too funny! She'll be happy you called her a young lady though. In her late 40s, she thinks and acts like she's 80 sometimes

 

[redbob]

Too funny! She'll be happy you called her a young lady though. In her late 40s, she thinks and acts like she's 80 sometimes

I took the colonel to Gettysburg to gather information for a C&GS paper and I first saw the look while standing in a snowstorm with a windchill of about -40 on top of Little Round Top. Needless to say, she wasn't impressed with my wealth of knowledge and BTW, I now average seeing the look at least once a day now. Have a safe trip.

 

[JOHN42768]

Some nice photos. After seeing President Monroe's tomb I needed to know more about it. Some info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Monroe_Tomb

 

[Rebelsoul]

How long before they demand that the graves and tombstones of all Confederate soldiers should be destroyed ? What's next, all my Civil war books should be banned and burned ? !

 

[bankerpapaw]

It appears to have been (for the most part) a very enjoyable day that you all will long remember. BTW, the young lady in the picture is giving you the same look that my wife gives me when I take her to some place of historical interest, especially when it is freezing outside.

My wife's attitude when I take her to a Civil War battlefield: "Oh look, a grassy field."

 

[BronxYankee]

Nice pics. I so wish I toured that area when I was living in Hampton Roads area(Chesapeake to be exact). This way I would have been able to see everything up still before all the recent events happened.

 

[James N.]

Nice pics. I so wish I toured that area when I was living in Hampton Roads area(Chesapeake to be exact). This way I would have been able to see everything up still before all the recent events happened.

Maybe this will give you some idea of what it was like back then:

Richmond In 1964 During The Civil War Centennial | The Traveler's Companion - Visit Historic Sites (civilwartalk.com)

 

[BronxYankee]

Maybe this will give you some idea of what it was like back then:

Richmond In 1964 During The Civil War Centennial | The Traveler's Companion - Visit Historic Sites (civilwartalk.com)

Nice. I drove to Richmond for work on occasion but never stopped to look at the monuments.

 

[KianGaf]

I did a one night stop in Richmond on my way down south last time I was in the US, I didn't get to see as much as I wanted sadly including Hollywood cemetery. I did get to see the White House of the confederacy & the old museum of the confederacy since replaced as I understand. I'd like to visit them parts again some day and take in Petersburg & Hampton roads aswell.