The Ultimate Guide to Richmond, VA 🏛️

The first stop heading south from DC is Richmond—a city that may fly under the radar today but shines brightly in American history. As the capital of Virginia, it once served as the Confederacy’s headquarters during the Civil War. Many key battles unfolded near DC and Northern Virginia. Must-Visit Spots 👇 1️⃣ VMFA (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts) 🖼️ Highlights: Fabergé eggs and jewelry 🥚💎 — exquisite pieces made with gold, crystal, ivory, emeralds, and more. Only 50 were ever made; the museum holds five. Family portraits of Tsar Nicholas II and miniatures of his children 👑 — his entire family was executed during the Russian Revolution, marking the end of the empire. American furniture from the 18th–19th centuries 🪑, a notable Indian cultural exhibition 🇮🇳, and decent East Asian art collections. The sculpture garden outside is beautiful too 🌳🗿. Note: The layout is a bit confusing—grab a map! 2️⃣ Maymont 🏡🌿 A historic estate built by a Richmond finance tycoon. Features: A Japanese garden 🎋 with a rustic yet clever design An Italian garden 🌺 A mansion with a famous swan bed (under renovation during my visit) 3️⃣ White House of the Confederacy + American Civil War Museum 🏛️📜 Buy a combo ticket. The White House is best viewed from outside. The Civil War Museum is housed in a repurposed factory with artistic architecture 🏭. It’s compact but fascinating for history buffs. Fun fact: I even found a wartime map of DC showing my neighborhood! Behind the museum flows the James River 🌊 — Richmond’s lifeline. I saw people partying on a sandbar island and swinging into the river from a rope. Quite a scene! 4️⃣ Other Options: The Poe Museum 🖋️: Dedicated to Edgar Allan Poe The Valentine ❤️: Museum of Richmond’s history University of Richmond & VCU 🎓: Both campuses are worth strolling—especially UR’s law school area Kayaking 🚣 and battlefield tours ⚔️ (highly recommended by followers!) Food recs will come in a separate post! 🍽️ #StudyAbroadTravel #DC #DMVTravel #EastCoastUSA #SummerTravel #OffTheBeatenPath #GlobalStudentLife #ExploreHiddenGems