Free Stuff in Richmond

I confess, I’m a free junkie.  I’d usually  rather find stuff to do that is free, than pay for it. Most of the time, the free stuff is just as good. So, instead of  going to King’s Dominion this summer, you’ll likely find me at Pony Pasture down by the river. Instead of the movie theater, you’ll likely find me at Maymont.  Luckily, there is plenty of great stuff to do in the  Richmond Region for free.  And thankfully, the Richmond Metro Convention & Visitor’s Bureau has compiled a list.  In interest of full disclosure, I should also mention that RMCVB is one of my many employers. Speaking of which, there is one event they forgot (sponsored by yet another of my employers) — Butterflies LIVE! Butterflies LIVE!  flitters into Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on May 22nd.  There is a charge to attend Butterflies LIVE! if you are not a member of the Garden, but on July 4th, Lewis Ginter hosts Butterflies are Free and  that means free admission to the Garden (and to the Butterflies LIVE!) for everyone on this day only.  What a great way to spend the 4th of July and to celebrate our FREE-dom!

Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives
Galleries contain changing exhibits about Richmond and Virginia Jewish experiences. The collection includes portraits, genealogies, photographs, documents and memorabilia. 1109 W. Franklin St. (804) 353-2668 or bethahabah.org. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday-Thursday.

Canal Walk
Stretching 1.25 miles along the James River and the Kanawha and Haxall Canals, the Canal Walk presents four centuries of Richmond’s history interpreted through medallions, monuments and exhibits. Multiple access points at nearly every block between Fifth and 17th streets; handicapped-accessible entrances at Fifth, 10th, 12th, 14th and 16th streets. (804) 788-6466 or venturerichmond.com.

Carytown Watermelon Festival
Sidewalk sales, musical entertainment and, of course, watermelon. August 9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Carytown. (804) 353-1525 or carytown.org.

Chimborazo Medical Museum
This museum sits on the site of the Civil War’s famous Chimborazo Hospital, where between 1861 and 1865, more than 75,000 Confederate soldiers received treatment. 3215 E. Broad St. (804) 226-1981 or nps.gov/rich. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Cold Harbor Battlefield Visitor Center
An electronic battle-map program describes the 1862 battle of Gaines’ Mill and the 1864 battle of Cold Harbor. 5515 Anderson-Wright Drive . (804) 730-5025 or nps.gov/rich. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Confederate War Memorial Chapel
This nondenominational chapel was built in 1887 by Confederate veterans as a memorial to Confederate dead. 2900 Grove Ave. (804) 740-4479. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.

Courtney Road Service Station
This “house-with-canopy”-style service station was built around 1925, when there was growth in car manufacturing and road improvements throughout the United States. 10698 Courtney Road . (804) 501-5520 or co.henrico.va.us/rec. By appointment only.

Deep Run Schoolhouse
Built in 1902, this two-room school operated until 1911. 3401 Pump Road, Short Pump Park. (804) 501-5520 or co.henrico.va.us/rec. 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, weekdays by appointment only.

Down Home Family Reunion
Celebrate African-American life with world music and dance, children’s events, a craft market and food. Aug. 14-15 Starting at 7 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday . Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward. (804) 644-3900 or efsinc.org.

Eppington Plantation
Eppington Plantation was built circa 1768 by Francis Eppes VI, brother-in-law of Thomas Jefferson. 14201 Eppes Falls Road . (804) 748-1623 or chesterfield.gov. By appointment only.

First Freedom Center
The goal of the First Freedom Center is to increase understanding and respect for diverse religions through educational initiatives. The Center’s premier exhibit, Faces of Religious Freedom, weaves the stories and photographs of those who have made sacrifices for the right to religious freedom throughout the United States. 1321 E. Main St. (804) 643-1786 or firstfreedom.org. By appointment only.

Fort Harrison Visitor Center
A self-guided, 20-minute walking trail takes visitors through the fort, which was captured by 3,000 Union soldiers on Sept. 29, 1864. 8621 Battlefield Park Road . (804) 226-1981 or nps.gov/rich. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, June-August. The grounds are open seasonally.

Gaines’ Mill Battlefield
Artillery exhibits, the historic Watt House that stood in the center of the Union lines and a 1.5-mile walking trail. Located 4 miles southeast of Mechanicsville off Route 156. (804) 730-5025 or nps.gov/rich. Sunrise-sunset daily.

Glendale/Malvern Hill Battlefields Visitor Center
Orientation to major 1862 battles of the Seven Days Campaign. 8301 Willis Church Road , inside the Glendale National Cemetery. (804) 226-1981 or nps.gov/rich. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, June-August. The grounds are open seasonally.

Hanover Courthouse
The second-oldest continuously used courthouse in the United States. The circa-1835 stone jail is included. Hanover County Government Complex, 7497 County Government Complex Road. (804) 537-5815. Tours by appointment only.

Hanover Tomato Festival
Hanover ‘s Most Celebrated Fruit Set to Make Another Appearance! July 11, 2009
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Pole Green Park, Mechanicsville, Virginia

Historic Polegreen Church
One of the first churches founded by Anglican dissenters in early America, the church was built in 1755. It burned during the Civil War. This symbolic, interpretive design is based on original drawings from a Union soldier. 6421 Heatherwood Drive . (804) 266-6186 or historicpolegreen.org.

Hollywood Cemetery
Established in 1847, Hollywood Cemetery is the final resting place of two U.S. presidents (James Monroe and John Tyler), other famous Virginians and thousands of Confederate soldiers. 412 S. Cherry St. (804) 648-8501 or hollywoodcemetery.org. Open daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Map ($1) available in office, which is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The James River
Whether it’s tubing or kayaking down the class IV rapids, fishing along the banks, or hiking or biking on Belle Isle, the James River provides endless opportunities for free fun.

Library of Virginia
The collections include ledgers of plantation owners and petitions of slaves and free blacks, Indian treaties, and Virginia’s original copy of the United States Bill of Rights. 800 E. Broad St. (804) 692-3500 or lva.virginia.gov. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Maggie L. Walker National Historical Site
This National Park Service site commemorates the life of a progressive African-American woman who grew up in post-Civil War Richmond and was the first female founder/president of a chartered bank in the United States. 600 N. Second St. (804) 771-2017 or nps.gov/mawa. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Maymont
Explore the Maymont House Museum, Italian and Japanese gardens, a carriage collection, 700 animals in wildlife exhibits, the Children’s Farm, and the Nature Center. Nature & Visitor Center, 2201 Shields Lake Drive; Maymont House Museum, 1700 Hampton St. (804) 358-7166 or maymont.org. Grounds open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. November-March, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. April-October. Exhibits open noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

Meadow Farm Museum
An 1860s farm featuring a historic farmhouse and tobacco barn, as well as crop fields and farm animals. Costumed interpreters are available throughout the year. 3400 Mountain Road . (804) 501-5520 or co.henrico.va.us/rec. Grounds open sunrise-sunset daily. Buildings open noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

Monument Avenue
The development of this National Historic Landmark began in 1890 with the unveiling of a monument to Gen. Robert E. Lee. Since then, Richmond has erected statues for three Confederate leaders and, in the mid-1990s, for tennis champion and philanthropist Arthur Ashe Jr. Begins in the Fan District at the intersection of Harrison Street and extends west to Horsepen Road.

The Museum Galleries at Virginia Union University
Located in the L. Douglas Wilder Library at Virginia Union University, the galleries include collections of masks, sculptures and paintings from Africa and the South Pacific as well as African-American folk art. 1500 N. Lombardy St. (804) 257-5660. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, or by appointment.

Museum in Memory of Virginia E. Randolph
The museum honoring Virginia E. Randolph, a pioneer in vocational education, is housed in a 1937 home-economics cottage. 2200 Mountain Road . (804) 261-5029. 1-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 3-5 p.m. Sunday. Also by appointment.

Museum of Virginia Catholic History
Collections include manuscripts of former bishops, diaries and journals that illustrate the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Virginia. (804) 359-5661 or richmonddiocese.org. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday by appointment.

Museum of Virginia Golf History
Sam Snead, Lanny Wadkins, Curtis Strange and Donna Andrews are among the Virginia golf stars spotlighted in the museum. Located at Independence Golf Club, home of the Virginia State Golf Association. 600 Founders Bridge Blvd. (804) 897-8641 or independencegolfclub.com. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

The National Donor Memorial
Located at the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) national headquarters, the memorial honors America’s organ and tissue donors for their gifts of life. 700 N. Fourth St. (804) 782-4800 or donormemorial.org. The garden is open year-round; tours by appointment.

New Kent Courthouse Square
In 1695, the New Kent County Courthouse was moved to its present location. Following several fires, the existing “old courthouse” was erected in 1909, and the restored old jail is home of the New Kent Historical Society. 12007 Courthouse Circle . (804) 966-9861 or co.new-kent.va.us. 9 a.m.-noon. Monday.

Old Dominion Railway Museum
Housed in a restored Railway Express Agency car, the museum features photos and artifacts. 102 Hull St. (804) 233-6237 or odcnrhs.org. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Richmond National Battlefield Park Civil War Visitor Center at Historic Tredegar
Meet a National Park Service Ranger and see three floors of exhibits, maps and audiovisual programs that introduce the story of Richmond during the Civil War and the battlefields that surround the city. 490 Tredegar St. (804) 771-2145 or nps.gov/rich. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Rockwood Nature Center
The Children’s Corner features activities related to the park’s animals and plants. Rockwood Park, at the intersection of Courthouse and Hull Street roads. (804) 674-1629 or chesterfield.gov. Noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

St. John’s Church “Give Me Liberty” Re-enactment
Historical re-enactors portray founding fathers including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, who gives his stirring “give me liberty or give me death” speech. 1:30 p.m. organ recital, 2 p.m. re-enactment every Sunday, Memorial Day-Labor Day, as well as July 4. Free. St. John’s Church . (804) 648-5015 or historicstjohnschurch.org.

St. Paul ‘s Episcopal Church
An elegant example of Greek Revival architecture featuring Tiffany windows. 815 E. Grace St. (804) 643-3589 or stpauls-episcopal.org. Self-guided tours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, after services Sunday.

Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church
The church was organized in 1867 by the Rev. John Jasper, who was born a slave on July 4, 1812. See the small collection of artifacts. 14 W. Duval St. (804) 648-7511. By appointment.

Three Lakes Nature Center
Focusing on reptiles, amphibians and fish of the region, the center contains a 50,000-gallon freshwater aquarium. 400 Sausiluta Drive. (804) 262-5055 or co.henrico.va.us/rec. Park is open sunrise-sunset daily. Nature Center Hours: September-November and March-May, noon-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; December-February, noon-4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; June-August, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and noon-4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Closed on Mondays.

Virginia Historical Society
The Virginia Historical Society tells the story of Virginia’s history from prehistory to the present. The 13 exhibition galleries feature the largest display of Virginia artifacts on permanent view. 428 N. Boulevard. (804) 358-4901 or vahistorical.org. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

Virginia Holocaust Museum
Learn about the lives of Holocaust survivors through their stories of the Kovno Ghetto and Dachau concentration camp. 2000 E. Cary St. (804) 257-5400 or va-holocaust.com. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
It’s easy to get lost in the amazing breadth and depth of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ encyclopedic art collection. The features include the Mellon collections of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art and British sporting art; the Pratt collection of Peter Carl Fabergé; European and American masterpieces of paintings; and an extensive collection of English silver. New galleries of Art Nouveau and Art Deco decorative arts and modern and contemporary art open in the spring. 200 N. Boulevard. (804) 340-1400 or vmfa.museum. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.

Virginia Capitol and Executive Mansion
The Virginia Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson, houses America’s oldest legislative assembly. Daily one-hour guided tours showcase historical statuary and paintings, rare exhibit objects, and newly restored legislative chambers. Self-guided tours also are available. Entrance at 10th and Bank streets. (804) 698-1788 or virginiacapitol.gov. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Call for tour schedule. Free. The Executive Mansion is the oldest continuously occupied governor’s home (since 1813) in the country. Capitol Square . Call (804) 371-8687for tour information and reservations. executivemansion.virginia.gov.

Virginia Telephone Museum
The museum exhibits phones dating back to the late 1800s, switchboards, phonebooks and tools. 713 E. Grace St. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, 1:30-5 p.m. Sundays by appointment. (804) 772-1118.

Virginia War Memorial
The memorial was built to honor Virginia’s veterans. It features a Shrine of Memory engraved with more than 11,600 names of Virginia veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice in war. 621 S. Belvidere St. (804) 786-2060 or vawarmemorial.org. The Shrine of Memory is open daily. Visitor center open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday.

Walkerton Tavern
Built by John Walker between 1824 and 1825, the structure has not only served as a tavern, but possibly a field hospital for wounded Union Cavalrymen in 1864. 2892 Mountain Road . (804) 261-6898 or co.henrico.va.us/rec. Office hours and tours 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tours free, but call ahead of time to confirm availability.