History enthusiasts of all ages will appreciate Richmond's museums and carefully preserved architectural treasures. Jamestown, founded in 1607, is nearby. The Revolutionary War ended more than 200 years ago at Yorktown, also a neighbor of Richmond. Richmond itself served as the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War, and its museums dedicated to the war and the Confederacy are among the best in the nation. Richmond's Court End District contains seven National Historic Landmarks, three museums, and 11 more buildings on the National Register of Historic Places - all within eight blocks.

The Virginia countryside is particularly beautiful in the vicinity of Richmond, which straddles the Tidewater and Piedmont regions. This inspiring mountain landscape can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Each season seems to bring it to the peak of perfection.

Richmond is only 100 miles from Washington, D.C., giving visitors access to all that the nation's Capitol has to offer. With its genteel Southern grace and charm, it is always a pleasure to spend time in Richmond: a center of culture and education.

Population: 197,790

Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time. Daylight saving time is observed from late April-late October. When it is noon in New York City, it is also noon in Richmond.

Elevation: 190 feet

Average Temperatures:

Local Seasons: Richmond and the Central Virginia area provide the full four

season spectrum of weather, with the spring garden season among the most

beautiful in the world.

Day trips from Richmond include Washington, DC (90 miles north),

Colonial Williamsburg (50 miles east), Virginia Beach (90 miles east)

and Charlottesville and the Blue Ridge Mountains (50 miles west).

National Holidays:

New Year's Day Jan. 1

Lee, Jackson, and King Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.

President's Day 3rd Mon. in Feb.

Memorial Day last Mon. in May

Independence Day July 4

Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept.

Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25

New Year's Eve Dec. 31

Emergency: 911

Time and Temperature: (804) 732-2121

Arriving:

By Air

The Richmond International Airport off I-64, Exit 197A, is served by all major domestic airlines. Limousine service and taxis are available between the airport and the greater Richmond area.

Rental Cars are available at the airport.

Rail Service

Amtrak Station is at 7519 Staples Mills Road

1-800-872-7245

Buses

Greyhound Terminal is at 2910 N. Boulevard Street

(804) 254-5938

Public Transportation

The Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) operates buses throughout

most of the city and surrounding areas.

By Car

The city is readily accessible by major airlines and train, and is minutes away from major north/south and east/west interstate highways.

Events

January Early January:  Joy From the World. Cultural holiday exhibits, art, storytelling, musical performances and planetarium shows from more than 25 cultures. Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. For information, call 804-864-1400, or toll-free 800-659-1727.January: Flood Wall Tour. The Old Dominion Railway Museum sponsors guided walking tours of historic sites along the flood wall of the James River's south bank. Old Dominion Railway Museum, 102 Hull St. For information, call 804-233-6237 or 804-231-4324.

  March, Early March:  Basketball Championship. Championship tournament of the CAA Division I college basketball league. Richmond Coliseum, 601 E. Leigh St. For information, call 804-780-4956. For tickets, call 804-780-4970, or Ticketmaster at 804-262-8100.Mid March:  St. Patrick's Day Parade. This annual parade, usually held on the Saturday preceding or following the actual holiday, goes along West Broad Street from Horsepen Road to Willow Lawn Drive. For information, call toll-free 888-742-4666.Easter on Parade. On historic Monument Avenue, this spring festival and parade offers live music, clowns, jugglers, crafts and food. For information, call 804-788-6466.    

April   Mid-Late April:  Historic Garden Week. Several historic plantation homes open their doors to the public during the oldest and largest statewide house-and-garden-tour event in the U.S. Features home and garden tours, afternoon teas and progressive lunches and dinners. For information, call 804-644-7776.Late April:  Richmond Civil War Day. Living-history demonstrations, drills and exhibits recall the life of Civil War soldiers in this commemoration of the 1864 Overland Campaign. Also artillery and rifle-firing demonstrations, walking tours to Belle Isle, civilian re-enactors, children's activities and period music. Tredegar Iron Works and Richmond National Battlefield Park, 3215 E. Broad St. For information, call 804-226-1981 or 804-771-2145.  

July,Early-Mid July:  Summer City Fest. This free music festival, formerly the Big Gig, features more than 50 jazz, blues, rock and pop concerts on Brown's Island and various other venues. Organ recitals and classical-music concerts at Centenary United Methodist Church, 411 E. Grace St. For information, call 804-788-6466.Mid-Late July:  Richmond Shakespeare Festival. Annual festival with performances in the outdoor amphitheater of a Tudor-style mansion. Special performance on 30 August. Wednesday-Sunday evenings. Agecroft Hall, 4305 Sulgrave Road. For information and tickets, call 804-232-4000. Continues through early August3, 4 July:  Richmond Braves 4th of July Extravaganza. Two nights of Independence Day celebrations, consisting of a Richmond Braves game at 7 pm, followed by a fireworks display. The Diamond, 3001 North Boulevard. For tickets, call 804-359-4444, or toll-free 800-849-4627.August Early August:  Richmond Shakespeare Festival. Annual festival with performances in the outdoor amphitheater of a Tudor-style mansion. Special performance on 30 August. Wednesday-Sunday evenings. Agecroft Hall, 4305 Sulgrave Road. For information and tickets, call 804-232-4000. (Weekends) August:  Free outdoor screenings of family-oriented films, music and children's games on Brown's Island. For information, call 804-788-6466.August:    Friday Cheers. Free Friday evening outdoor concerts by some of the region's top talent on Brown's Island. For information, call 804-788-6466. 

September Early September:  Minor-League Baseball. The Richmond Braves, an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, play regular-season home games at The Diamond, 3001 North Boulevard. For information and tickets, call 804-359-4444, or toll-free 800-849-4627.End September:  Virginia State Fair. Exhibits, livestock shows, handicrafts, rock and pop music concerts, food and wine competitions and more. Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E. Laburnum Ave. For information and tickets, call 804-569-3200, or toll-free 800-588-3247.Late September:  River City Beer and Seafood Festival. More than 40 different varieties of microbrewed, handcrafted and imported beers, seafood booths and live entertainment. Brown's Island. For information, call 804-788-6466.  

OctoberEarly October:  Arts Around the Lake. This juried arts show offers works by nearly 100 local artists on display and for sale. Westhampton Lake, University of Richmond campus. Sponsored by the Greater Richmond Alumni Chapter. For more information, call 804-289-8026.

December Throughout December:  Joy From the World. Cultural holiday exhibits, art, storytelling, musical performances and planetarium shows from more than 25 cultures. Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. For information, call 804-864-1400, or toll-free 800-659-1727. Continues through early January