Richmond Warning or Danger Tips by matcrazy1

MCVH = MEDICAL COLLEGE OF

VIRGINIA HOSPITAL

I found the following info on official page of the Museum of the Confederacy:
"Parking is available in the MCVH Visitor Patient Parking deck at the end of Clay Street. Bring your parking ticket to the front desk and we will gladly validate (...)."

I parked my car there, just by the tall building of MCVH which meant the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals (on my picture) and I validated my ticket at the desk all right. Despite it when I was leaving the parking I had to pay $4.00 to the guy at the parking gate. It seemed that he didn't write the webpage of the museum.

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Phone: +1 (804) 649-1861
Website: http://www.moc.org/visit.htm
Other Contact: Fax: +1 (804) 644-7150

Local Ways: Before you go...

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Written by matcrazy1

on Nov 18, 2004

THE MUSEUM OF THE CONFEDERACY

IN RICHMOND

The key to understanding Richmond, Virginia and the South is to understand its history. Please do not forget about it whenever you are there.

Unfortunately I started to study history of the USA and the South after I got there. In Richmond, when I was visiting the Museum and White House of the Confederacy, when I was walking amidst numerous monuments of Southern patriots and then visiting numerous historical places and museums in 13 states. My advice is to get to know more about the South and its fascinating history before your visit and even more important, try to know various opinions. It should help you to understand the culture of the South and some differences between the South and the rest of the USA.

During my visit to numerous historical places in the South, I always tried to ask natives and visitors about their opinions on the past and they almost always shared their, surprisingly quite different, opinions with me. History, especially of so called Civil War (1861-1865) is still, after almost 140 years, controversial and there are many opinions on that among Americans.

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Website: http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/index.html

Overpriced Stores: Overpriced online store

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Written by matcrazy1

on Nov 20, 2004

THE HAVERSACK STORE LOGO

There was a store called the Haversack Store in the Museum of the Confederacy (details in my shopping tips). Unfortunetely, because we were at the start of a fairly expensive trip around the South I decided not to buy anything there.

After I came back home I found their online store. I was even more surprised to learn that the prices there were much higher. For example the large Confederate flag costs $60.00 (+ shipping fee - $7.95) online while it costed only $45.00 in the store. Keep in mind that the online store is available for U.S. costumers.

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Website: http://www.moc.org/store/agora.cgi?product=feature

Lack of time: Take more time

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Updated by matcrazy1

on Nov 21, 2004

CLOCK ON THE TOWER OF THE OLD

CITY HALL

We arrived in Richmond in the early afternoon. It was a quarter past 4 pm (look at my picture) when we finished our visit to the Museum of the Confederacy. It was too late to visit anything more in the way of museums (they close at 4.00 and 5.00 pm). Capitol tours ended at 4.00 pm. We did have enough time for quite a long walk along Monument Avenue and see the Jefferson Hotel.

If you want to visit more points of interest (follow the link below) take more time. I mean at least one full day.

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Website: http://www.richmond.com/visitors/places_to_see.cfm

Construction and Renovation: Closed to pedestrian traffic

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Updated by matcrazy1

on Nov 22, 2004

INFO TABLE ON RENOVATIONS AT THE

CAPITOL SQUARE

Because of renovations and restoration most of the Capitol Square, some sidewalks around and buildings were closed to pedestrian traffic in October 2004. I could see the buildings behind a fence, some surrouned by scaffolding.

By 2007 the following buildings will have been restored and renovated:
- the Virginia State Capitol,
- the Old State Library and Archives,
- the Old Finance Building,
- the Washington Building.

Hmm... I would like to revisit Richmond in 2008 :-).

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Website: http://legis.state.va.us/CapitolTours/Individuals.htm

Warnings Or Dangers: More information, please!

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Written by matcrazy1

on Nov 22, 2004

THERE IS! THE DIRECTION SIGN!

It's more my suggestion for city leaders than real warning tip. My improving nature, ask local authorities for more direction signs (there were few) and information tables (there were none or some very old) on tourist attractions (historical buildings, monuments etc.) for individual visitors walking around.

Hmm... maybe most visitors drive there from one parking lot to the next one or buy guided tour. Maybe Richmond is not that much touristy city yet. Maybe they prefer to spend public money for something different. Anyway, I do hope that local authorities will put more signs and info soon.

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Lack of time: Tip for my... next Richmond visit

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Written by matcrazy1

on Nov 22, 2004

I WILL FOLLOW THAT SIGN NEXT

TIME :-)

I believe I will revisit Richmond (and surely meet Nat there) in a few years and I will try to...

1. take less luggage with me :-),

2. improve my spoken English (and my budget :-),

3. reserve at least 3-4 days for Richmond and one or half-day trips around,

4. visit (list stay open, any more suggestions?):
- renovated Virginia State Capitol,
- Canal Walk and Richmond National Battlefield Park Civil War Visitor Center,
- historical houses like John Marshall House, Maymont, Virginia House, Wilton House, Maggie L. Walker House,
- Edgar Allan Poe Museum (I was very surprised: one of friends in Poland asked me whether I visited it),
- Valentine Museum,
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,
- Chimborazo Medical Museum,
- Virginia's Executive Mansion (hopefully open each day under new governor),
- Agecroft Hall,
- Hollywood Cemetery,
- Saint John's Episcopal Church (and hear there Patrick Henry's "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech).

5. walk along Monument Avenue with Nat (again) and visit American Historical Foundation Museum

6. do some shopping (local wines, CDs with southern country music)

7. eat more southern food incl. Krispy Kreme dougnouts (again)

8. Visit more in Virginia:
- Jamestown and Yorktown,
- the cities of Tidewater (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, and Hampton),
- Smithfield - home of the famous hams,
- eat at Virginia Diner in Wakefield,
- see more of Southside Virginia,
- tour the campus of George Mason University (Fairfax),
- see the Newseum (Arlington),
- shop at Pentagon City and the shops at Crystal City (Arlington).

Uff, enough for now, two wesks needed, I see :-).

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Smoking Restrictions: Smoking versus non-smoking

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Written by matcrazy1

on Nov 26, 2004

IN LA CASITA RESTAURANT

Warning for smoking
Richmond and Virginia was not as strict about smoking in public places and restaurants like say Utah or California. However, in most restaurants I visited, smoking was not allowed. For example La Casita Mexican restaurant proudly announced that it was located in a smoke free building since January, 2004.

Warning for non-smoking
In some cheaper restaurants there are seperate non-smoking sections, but they are not well seperated from the smoking sections.

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Warnings Or Dangers: Poor light and blurred pictures

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Written by matcrazy1

on Nov 29, 2004

ROTUNDA IN JEFFERSON HOTEL