The southern historians refer to this period of history as "The War Between the States" and it is a phrase the visitor may hear mentioned in many of the locales listed below. Richmond, for much of the war, was theCapital of the Confederacy and part of its rich history is deeply entwined with that conflict. The siege of Petersburg was an attempt to take Richmond as was the Peninsula Campaign waged by General George McClellan. Like the battle lines, not all sites are in Richmond proper, but in the surrounding communities. Most are within a half hour drive from Richmond's city center. To get a broad overview of the sites in the area, the visitor should start their tour at the Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Richmond National Battlefield Park - Make this your first stop on your tour of Civil War battlefields in the Richmond Area. Map guides to preserved battlefields and exhibits, plus a film presentation should go a long way to orient you to the battle plan defenses and Union offenses to take the city. One-fourth of the battles and 60 percent of casualties of the entire war occurred with a 75 mile radius of the city, many were part of the seven military drives that were hurled against Richmond. Due to the large number of casualties, the largest hospital in the south at the time of the war was located at the Battlefield Park site. / 3215 E. Broad Street / (804) 226-1981/ FREE

Chimborazo Medical Museum - Part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park visitor center, the hospital was built in 1861 and treated over 76,000 patients during the Civil War. Medical exhibits and hospital life are explored along side the introduction to the Richmond battlefields. / 3215 E. Broad Street / (804) 226-1981/ FREE

Museum of the Confederacy - A Civil War museum with the world's largest, most comprehensive collection of artifacts relating to the Confederacy. Over 15,000 artifacts are housed here, from military equipment and clothing belonging to famous Confederate generals, paintings and illustrations of events to hundreds of unit battle flags. The museum covers all aspects of the war including exhibits depicting the lives of the free and enslaved African-American population. / 1201 E. Clay Street / (804) 649-1861 / $

White House of the Confederacy - The wartime home of Jefferson Davis adjoins the Clay Street Museum of the Confederacy. Known as the White House of the Confederacy, the home was restored in the 1980s, eleven period rooms are open to visitors with many of the original furnishings in place. / adjacent to 1201 E. Clay Street / (804) 649-1861/ $

Drewry's Bluff - On May 15th, 1862, Federal gun boats, including their ironclad Monitor, were repulsed by the Confederate firepower commanding the fort on the bluff just below Richmond.The fort was never captured by the Federals during the war. / Off Route 1, south of Bellwood / (804) 226-1981/ FREE

Fort Harrison - Originally part of the outer ring of defenses around Richmond, Fort Harrison remained in Confederate hands until the final months of the war. Grant captured the Fort at the end of September in 1864, Lee tried to recapture some of the defenses in October but failed to move Grant. / Off Route 5, Varina Road / (804) 226-1981/ FREE

Hollywood Cemetery - A large stone pyramid honors the 18,000 Confederate Soldiers buried in this elaborate cemetery located in the heart of Richmond. Among the rolling hills, the visitor will also find the final resting place of Jefferson Davis and J.E.B. Stuart as well as United States Presidents James Monroe, John Tyler and Chief Justice John Marshall, the stroll alone is worth the trip. / 412 South Cherry Street / (804) 648-8501 / FREE

Hanover County

Cold Harbor National Battlefield Park - General Grant thought of his final assault of Cold Harbor as his greatest mistake of the war. For several days in the late spring of 1864, Grant ordered a massive offensive on the Confederate troops, who were well fortified in anticipation of his advance. The casualties were in the thousands, many lying wounded and dying in a no-man's land between the two forces. A truce was called to clear the field and to rescue the wounded. / off Cold Harbor Road at State Route 156 / (804) 226-1981/ FREE

Petersburg / Dinwiddie County

Old Blandford Church - Built in the early 18th century, soon after the city's founding by William Byrd II, the old brick Blandford Church was later adorned with 15 stained-glass windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The famous memorial windows were donated by the Confederate States in honor of their war dead, 30,000 of whom lie in the church cemetery. / 319 South Crater Road / (804) 733-2400 / $

Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier - Built along Lee's lines of defense, Pamplin Park offers an insight to the lives and times of the soldiers and local residents during the last year of the Civil War. The Battles of Hatcher's Run, Burgess Mill and Five Forks all occurred practically within earshot of this site. When the line faltered here, so did the hopes of the Confederacy. The park hosts a soldiers museum, battlefield simulation gallery, siege line reconstructions on the historic earthworks and an original plantation home. / Off US Route 1 south of I-85 / (804)861-2408 / $

Petersburg National Battlefield - Beginning as a plan to take Richmond, the siege of Petersburg lasted almost a year. The city struggled through a horrendous year of skirmishes, muddy trench warfare and artillery pounding, including the deafening explosion of the crater. Over 2,700 acres, the Petersburg National Battlefield explores the siege from beginning to end. The Visitor Center orients guests to the lay of the land through maps, models and an audiovisual presentation. The 4 mile self-guided Battlefield Tour begins at the center. There are four places where visitors walk from the road into Battlefield sites; some parts of the tour road are reserved for hikers and cyclists. / Visitor Center / Off State Route 56 / (804)732-3531 / $

Siege Museum, The Petersburg Museum - The longest siege of the Civil War was that of Petersburg. From the stalled and bogged down lines of the conflict to the infamous Battle of the Crater, the Union Army knew if Petersburg fell, that Richmond would be accessible. For ten months the armies faced each other, until early in 1865 when General Phil Sheridan pushed through the lines at the Battle of Five Forks. The museum chronicles it all, from beginning to the end, with exhibits and film documentation. / 15 W. Bank Street / Petersburg / (804) 368-3595 / $

Hopewell / City Point

Old City Point - Part of the Petersburg National Battlefield - Down below the fall line of the James River, at the convolution of the James and Appomatax, the Union Army set up their supply line with the north at Old City Point. During the siege of Petersburg, this was the major hub of activity with barges laden with supplies delivering the means to defeat the Confederacy. The supply line was sabotaged only for a brief time when a huge cache of explosives was detonated by a small band of rebels. / Visitor Center / (804)732-3531 / $ / area is in Hopewell

Weston Plantation - This thirteen room mansion, on the south side of the James, is a rare example of the Georgian River Plantation. Filled with period furnishings, it's well worth a look-see. Directions to the planation off Route 10 may be obtained at the Hopewell Visitoršs Center on Oaklawn Blvd. / 4100 Oaklawn Blvd. / Hopewell / (804) 458-4682 / $

Charles City County

Berkeley Plantation - This 1726 house was the birthplace of 19th century United States president, William Henry Harrison and ancestral home of another, Benjamin Harrison. Their ancestor, an earlier Benjamin Harrison signed the Declaration of Independence. During the Civil War, General McClellan quartered his troops here and and it was at this site in 1862 that "Taps" was composed. After Malvern Hill, McClellan retreated back to Berkeley before he left for Alexandria. / 12602 Harrison Landing Road / Charles City County / (804)829-6018 / $

Shirley Plantation - Settled in 1613, Shirley has been the ancestral home to the Hill and Carter families since 1660. The 18th century house features the famous and unique hanging staircase that rises three stories without visible support. Portraits, silver and family heirlooms grace this beautiful home that has also seen its share of wonderful family lore. General Robert E. Lee's mother was born at Shirley. / 501 Shirley Plantation Road / Charles City County / (804)829-5121 / $

Appomattox Court House

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park - The date was the 9th of April 1865 when General Robert E. Lee signed the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant at the home of Wilmer McLean. A bit off the beaten path, this historic site is a restored village of 27 structures preserved as they appeared on that fateful day. Just over an hour's drive southwest of Richmond, this is the ideal place to conclude a tour of the areas Civil War sites. / Appomattox Court House / (804) 352-8987 / $

Straford

Stratford Hall Plantation - Northeast of Richmond is the birthplace of General Robert E. Lee, Stratford Hall. The house sits on the grounds of a restored working Colonial plantation. Beyond being the birthplace of General Lee, the place was the home to two signers of the Declaration of Independence, as well as a colonial president of the Council of Virginia and acting governor of the colony. Lee's father, "Light Horse" Harry Lee was a general and hero of the Revolution as well as a friend of George Washington. Considered one of the most beautiful of its period, the home is built of brick in an "H" formation with stunning chimney stacks at the intersections of each wing, interiors are equally impressive. The plantation was owned by the Lee family from 1730s to 1810 and has been preserved to reflect that era. / SR 3 off SR 214 / (804) 493-8038 / $

Reserve Early ...while your preferred accommodations are still available.