Richmond

https://www.nps.gov/rich/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_National_Battlefield_Park The Richmond National Battlefield Park commemorates 13 American Civil War sites around Richmond, Virginia, which served as the capital of the Confederate States of America for most of the war. The park connects certain features within the city with defensive fortifications and battle sites around it. The center of Confederate manufacturing fueled a modern war, one of the South’s largest hospitals gave care to the sick and wounded, and armies battled on open fields and in miles of defensive earthworks. From 1861 to 1865, Richmond’s fate would determine America’s future. Richmond National Battlefield Park has two visitor centers and ten additional self-guided, outdoor battlefield units. Please navigate to the "visitor centers" section to select an individual visitor center and find directions to its location. Chimborazo Medical Museum Visitor center focusing on Civil War medical practices. Exhibits and 17 minute orientation film. Located at 3215 E. Broad Street, Richmond VA 23223 Cold Harbor Battlefield Visitor Center Small visitor contact station with maps and interpretive displays about the 1862 Battle of Gaines's Mill and the 1864 Battle of Cold Harbor. Located at 5515 Anderson Wright Dr., Mechanicsville, VA 23111 Earthworks at Fort Harrison Earthworks at Fort Harrison Earthworks like these at Fort Harrison can be found throughout the park Cold Harbor Battlefield Visitor Center A small brick visitor center building beside a flagpole. Cold Harbor Battlefield Visitor Center Chimborazo Visitor Center A two story gray brick building and a wooden sign reading "Chimborazo Visitor Center" Chimborazo Visitor Center Drewry's Bluff A large, black Civil War cannon overlooking a river from a high bluff. Drewry's Bluff unit of Richmond National Battlefield Park overlooking the James River Bat Population Monitoring in Richmond National Battlefield Park Scientists are using special microphones and tiny radio-tracking devices to learn about bats at Richmond National Battlefield Park. White-nose syndrome has negatively affected several species in the park, and more information about what species are present and what areas are important for them, will help the park better conserve bats and their habitat. A northern long-eared bat being examined by a biologist. Women Amidst War The extreme demands of wartime industry and the loss of traditional family breadwinners to military service caused hardship, but also presented opportunities to women for employment, volunteerism, and activism that previously had been unavailable to them. While many of these gains would be temporary, the Civil War nonetheless represents an important step forward in American society's view of the role of women. Women were increasingly seen (and saw themselves) as the foundat Photo of women at a house on the Cedar Mountain battlefield African Americans at the Siege of Petersburg Petersburg, Virginia was a major supply hub for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Interestingly, half the population of this city, whose rail lines would prove so essential to the survival of Richmond, was comprised of both free African Americans and slaves. As the war closed in on this community, these individuals would play a critical role. Photo of United States Colored Troops at review in Washington, D.C. Veteran Story: Daniel Hodgson Daniel Hodgson retired as a master chief from the U.S. Navy after a career as a Seabee. Today he works at Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie Walker National Historic Park as a facility manager. Daniel Hodgson in Navy uniform Death and Dying The somber aftermath of Civil War battles introduced Americans--North and South--to death on an unprecedented scale and of an unnatural kind, often ending in an unmarked grave far from home. Neither individuals, nor institutions, nor governments were prepared to deal with death on such a massive scale, for never before or since have we killed so many of our own. The Civil War revolutionized the American military's approach to caring for the dead, leading to our modern cult Photo of freshly buried marked and unmarked graves near Petersburg, Va. Emancipation and the Quest for Freedom Although the abolition of slavery emerged as a dominant objective of the Union war effort, most Northerners embraced abolition as a practical measure rather than a moral cause. The war resolved legally and constitutionally the single most important moral question that afflicted the nascent republic, an issue that prevented the country from coalescing around a shared vision of freedom, equality, morality, and nationhood. Slave family seated in front of their house NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Richmond National Battlefield Park, Virginia Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. cannon in field Urban Archeology Corps in Richmond VA The Urban Archeology Corps led students as they unearthed the history of a Richmond, Virginia community descended from enslaved people freed in the late 18th century. Two people excavating in a forest Chimborazo Hospital From 1861 to 1865 the surgeons and nurses of Chimborazo Hospital in the Confederate Capitol of Richmond, Virginia waged their own war against disease and infection while they cared for over 75,000 men. Photo of a model of the Chimborazo Hospital 2016 Freeman Tilden Award Recipients In 2016, six rangers were awarded a national or regional Freeman Tilden Award for excellence in interpretation. Learn more about their amazing programs! Lynette Weber The Military Experience The course of the war was the cumulative result of political, economic, and social policies that affected (and were affected by) military operations and battles waged across a front spanning 2,000 miles. The battles and campaigns of 1861-65 ultimately demonstrated that the simple application of massive military force, even with innovations in technologies and tactics, was insufficient to resolve a conflict between two sections mobilized against one another politically, socia Engraving of soldier warming himself by a fire Photo of U.S. Sanitary Commission office. Preserving Places of Captivity: Civil War Military Prisons in the National Parks During the Civil War, over 400,000 Union and Confederate soldiers were held prisoner at more than 150 diff erent prison sites. Approximately 56,000 of these died in captivity. Although Andersonville is the most famous Civil War prison, it is only one of many Civil War military prisons that are preserved by the National Park Service. Tredegar Iron Works - Ironmaker to the Confederacy At the outbreak of the war Tredegar Iron Works was one of the top cannon foundries in the United States. Over the course of the four years of the war the Iron Works pumped out cannon and munitions for the Confederate cause. Photo of cannon Industry and Economy during the Civil War Both North and South mobilized industry to an unprecedented degree. But the North, which already had a head start in nearly every realm of industrial and agricultural development, far outpaced the South during the war. Unhampered by the southern opposition in such areas as providing free land to farmers and subsidizing a transcontinental railroad before the war, Congress passed sweeping legislation to expand the economy. As the war dragged on, in part because many of the ba Lithograph showing industrial and technological advancements of the Civil War The Civilian Experience in the Civil War After being mere spectators at the war's early battles, civilians both near and far from the battlefields became unwilling participants and victims of the war as its toll of blood and treasure grew year after year. In response to the hardships imposed upon their fellow citizens by the war, civilians on both sides mobilized to provide comfort, encouragement, and material, and began to expect that their government should do the same. Painting of civilians under fire during the Siege of Vicksburg 2020 Weather In Review: Richmond National Battlefield Park In all, 2020 was extremely warm wet. The year ended as the 3rd warmest and 3rd wettest year at the park since 1895. Trees with fall foliage over a split-rail fence Veteran Story: Jessica Zanetta Zanetta served in airborne and air assault units in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She now works for Richmond National Battlefield Park. Jessica Zanetta The Changing War Begun as a purely military effort with the limited political objectives of reunification (North) or independence (South), the Civil War transformed into a social, economic and political revolution with unforeseen consequences. As the war progressed, the Union war effort steadily transformed from a limited to a hard war; it targeted not just Southern armies, but the heart of the Confederacy's economy, morale, and social order-the institution of slavery. Woodcut of spectators watching a train station set fire by Sherman's troops Pushing Forward The movements of General George McClellan's Union Army in the first half of 1862 affected the Confederate civilians that they were encountering but also the Confederate morale. Photogrpah of civilians fleeing a town Hancock's War Major General Winfield S. Hancock came out to the Southern Plains in the Spring of 1867 to quell a suspected Indian uprising. He was a distinguished U.S. Army officer with an impressive record, especially for service during the Civil War. However, dealing with an enemy so culturally dissimilar to him proved a difficult challenge. Instead of pacifying the Indians, his burning of a local Indian village incited a summer of violence known to history as "Hancock's War." Black and white head photo of Winfield Scott Hancock Series: The Vortex of Hell When the Peninsula Campaign began in 1862 Northern hopes were again raised for a quick victory, but the poor progress of George McClellan resulted in a restless northern public. In sharp contrast, Lee's success in stopping McClellan's advance cast him as the savior of Richmond and cloaked his army with a sense of invincibility. Even as Lee pushed McClellan away from Richmond, Union General John Pope led his army deeper into Virginia, introducing a policy of bringing the war directly to the south Lithograph of Kearny's chage at the Battle of Chantilly All Hope is Not Lost – Parks plan strategically to treat invasive plants Managing invasive plant species can seem like an endless and insurmountable challenge, but parks are using a new strategic collaborative tool to protect their most valuable resources. Four photos show invasive plants spreading over an area during 12 years An introduction to the benthic macroinvertebrate community at Richmond National Battlefield Park Benthic macroinvertebrates are an important part of stream ecosystems in Richmond National Battlefield Park. NPS scientists are studying these organisms in order to better understand and protect park natural resources. NPS staff kneeling in a stream with a net Breeding bird monitoring at Richmond National Battlefield Park: 2019 status and trends To help inform natural resource management at Richmond National Battlefield Park, National Park Service scientists collect data about breeding bird populations. See what they learned from this data in 2019. A small bright blue bird perched on a limb. Series: African American History at Gettysburg Abraham Brian, Basil Biggs, James Warfield, and Mag Palm are just a few of the many individuals that were affected by the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg, and each has their own story to tell. We have collected their stories in one place so that you can learn more about their various trials during this tumultuous time in American history. A black and white photograph of a black family posing with a white man and his horse in a dirt road. 2021 Weather In Review: Richmond National Battlefield Park In all, 2021 was warmer than average but had near-normal total precipitation. The year ended as the 9th warmest and 52nd wettest recorded since 1895. Yellow sunrise Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Deer Impacts A healthy forest needs to have enough tree seedlings and saplings to regenerate the forest canopy after a disturbance. Analysis of NPS I&M and other long-term datasets makes it clear that many eastern national parks lack adequate tree regeneration due to decades of over browsing by white-tailed deer. Deer impacts I&M Networks Support Resilient Forest Management NPS Inventory and Monitoring Networks have been tracking forest health in eastern national parks since 2006. This monitoring information can guide resilient forest management and support parks in adapting to changing conditions through the actions described below. Forest health monitoring Managing Resilient Forests. A Regional Initiative Forests cover tens of thousands of acres in eastern national parks and these critical resources face a range of interacting stressors: over-abundant white-tailed deer populations, invasive plant dominance, novel pests and pathogens, among other threats. The Resilient Forests Initiative will help parks address these issue collectively. Forest health monitoring Series: Managing Resilient Forests Initiative for Eastern National Parks Forests in the northeastern U.S. are in peril. Over-abundant deer, invasive plants, and insect pests are negatively impacting park forests, threatening to degrade the scenic vistas and forested landscapes that parks are renowned for. With regional collaboration, parks can manage these impacts and help forests be resilient. This article series explores tools available to park managers to achieve their goals. Healthy forests have many native seedlings and saplings. Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Invasive Plants & Pests Park forests are threatened by invasive plants and pests. Strategically tackling invasive plants to protect park’s highest priority natural resources and planning around forest pests and pathogens are important actions in managing resilient forests. Forest Regeneration Grant at Richmond Realizing he was fighting yet another stalemate, Grant looked towards Richmond. He set his sights on Old Cold Harbor, a key strategic area. For three days, the Union attacked. However, disorganization, unfamiliar terrain and battle-weary soldiers prevented them from breaking through the Confederate forces. Ulysses S Grant standing by a tree with a tent in the background. Series: The Odyssey of Ulysses An unknown 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S.-Mexican War later resigns the army. He rejoins and goes on to become lieutenant general of all Union armies. In his first term as President of the United States, he establishes Yellowstone National Park. From his first battle to his family home to his final resting place — the saga of Ulysses S. Grant is preserved in your National Parks. Color lithograph of Grant at the capture of the city of Mexico. Guide to the Thomas J. Allen Photograph Collection Finding aid for the Thomas J. Allen Photographs in the NPS History Collection. 2022 Weather in Review: Richmond National Battlefield Park The year 2022 was warmer than average at Richmond National Battlefield Park, but total precipitation for the year was near normal. Old corn crib in a green field Success at the 2023 Girl Scout Convention and Boy Scout National Jamboree Read about the two major Scouting events that took place in July 2023 - the Girl Scout Convention held in Orlando, Florida and the Boy Scouts Jamboree held in Beckley, West Virginia. Phenom by Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Jamboree 2023 Weather in Review: Richmond National Battlefield Park Richmond National Battlefield Park experienced a very warm 2023 as it was the 4th warmest year on record (since 1895). Total annual precipitation at the park was just below normal. A black cannon with yellow fall foliage in the background. On to Richmond: Civil War 160th Programs & Events Beginning in the spring of 2023, special events at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP, Richmond National Battlefield Park, and Petersburg National Battlefield will commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Overland Campaign and beyond. How would the events of 1864 shape the course of the war? How would the decisions made in 1864 determine the future of the United States? View of cannon at Prospect Hill on Fredericksburg Battlefield at sunset. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. 50 Nifty Finds #49: Happy Little Trees Historically National Park Service (NPS) landscape architects were the artists of the NPS. Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s the NPS began hiring some of the best graphic design and advertising firms in the country to create or update logos and symbols. How is it, then, that Robert C. Osborn—a cartoonist, caricaturist, and satiric commentator known for his “images of bloated power, violence, and death”—came to draw one of the National Park Service’s most feel-good symbols? Bushy green tree with a smile and upraised arms under Project Profile: Restore Eastern Grasslands The National Park Service will restore up to 4,000 acres of agricultural fields and degraded lands across 37 parks in 15 states. This landscape-scale restoration project will expand the range and connectivity of native grasslands across the eastern US, restore biodiversity and critical ecosystem functions, reduce pesticide use, benefit people and wildlife, and create employment opportunities for diverse early career youth. A park manager and others standing amidst a grassy landscape. Learning about Deep Bottom Stories The James River at Deep Bottom has more stories to tell than ever. It’s a splendid branch of the Chesapeake to explore by paddlecraft and powerboat alike. Go see for yourself. Civil War drawing of Deep Bottom Dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on how dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways: Janssen, S.E., C.J. Kotalik, J.J. Willacker, M.T. Tate, C. Flanagan Pritz, S.J. Nelson, D.P. Krabbenhoft, D. Walters, and C. Eagles-Smith. 2024. Geographic Drivers of Mercury Entry into Aquatic Foods Webs Revealed by Mercury Stable Isotopes in Dragonfly Larvae. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02436 close up of dragonfly larvae on white spoon Project Profile: Inland and River Landscapes - Climate Change Impacts to Military and Battlefield Cultural Landscapes The National Park Service will create comprehensive geospatial databases to synthesize existing cultural resource data with the goal of informing strategies to address climate change. The project is focused on inland and river battlefield cultural landscapes in the Northeast region that are affected by climate change impacts such as river flooding, more frequent and intense storms, and changing vegetation and fire regimes. Cannon pointing out toward a green and yellow field Project Profile: Managing Resilient Eastern Forests The National Park Service will improve the ecological health of eastern forests in 38 parks using an array of management techniques. The NPS has selected forest ecosystems of high ecological and cultural value across multiple parks from Virginia to Maine that are at greatest risk of forest loss due to chronic and interacting stressors. Person gazes up at a tall tree Inventory & Monitoring Partnerships Aim to Improve Park Forest Health from Coast to Coast From coast to coast, the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division is helping park managers improve the health and function of forest ecosystems. From promoting resilient forests in the Northeast, to conserving whitebark pine in the West, to protecting Hawaiian forest birds from avian malaria, scientific partnerships are helping parks to share information, leverage funding sources, and work together for outcomes that extend beyond what any park could accomplish on its own. Four people, one in NPS uniform, stand in a forest. Three look upward through binoculars. Hidden in Plain Sight: Old Growth Remnant Grasslands During 2024 scouting for a large eastern grassland restoration project funded by IRA and BIL, several old growth remnant grasslands were identified in National Capital and Northeast Region parks that were previously unknown. These remnants preserve the genetic integrity of the original grassland flora of the eastern US and are true unexpected treasures that in some cases, were hidden in plain sight. a grassland landscape with distant trees Resilient Forests Initiative - Forest Complexity Much of the forest in the eastern United States is around the same age, regrowing after widespread land clearing that peaked between the 1880's and 1920's. Throughout the twentieth century, forests began to regenerate, eventually spreading onto abandoned agricultural lands. Canopy gap Bridging history and ecology: Fire management strategies at Cold Harbor Battlefield In 2024, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provided funding for prescribed fire and mechanical thinning at Cold Harbor Battlefield. These initiatives reduced hazardous fuels on 32 acres while preserving the historic battlefield's appearance and protecting Civil War-era earthworks, wetlands and their buffers. Small flames consume dead leaves and duff in deciduous forest. Integrating Data to Preserve the Past and Conserve Historic Battlefields The National Park Service (NPS) is endeavoring to understand the growing impacts of climate change on cultural and natural resources at northeastern parks. An Inflation Reduction Act-funded project, spearheaded by an interdisciplinary team including the Northeast Archeological Resources Program and Regional Archeologist James Nyman, seeks to create a comprehensive tool to support holistic resource management and climate adaptation across NPS parks. Blue cannons, relics of battlefields of the past, sit amongst a grassy field. “Cracking the code” on mercury bioaccumulation Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on a model to predict mercury risk park waterbodies: Kotalik, C.J. et al. 2025. Ecosystem drivers of freshwater mercury bioaccumulation are context-dependent: insights from continental-scale modeling. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07280 A person stands in a field looking at a bug through a magnifying lens. New Research Shows Mobile Devices Are a Powerful Way to Learn about Visitors U.S. national parks have long relied on question-based surveys to capture snapshots of who visitors are and what they like to do. Data from mobile devices provide a complementary, park-wide perspective not previously available. Visitors watch, some photographing/filming with mobile devices, as clouds of smoke engulf 2 cannons.