City: Richmond, VA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (804) 649-0711

Address: 1015 E. Clay St.

Description: Preserving Richmond’s history since 1894, when the Valentine family began the museum in historic Court End, the center has amassed an enormous collection of Richmond-related artifacts, including 900,000 bits and pieces of Richmond’s past, an internationally admired textile collection more than 40,000 pieces strong, and an important African-American history collection, among others. The changing exhibits pull from these collections to bring to light fascinating and forgotten parts of Richmond’s history. The permanent exhibits focus on the two families who made this complex what it is today, the Wickhams and the Valentines, both of whom once lived in what is known as the Wickham House, which is adjacent to the history center. Other permanent exhibits include a walk through Richmond’s first 300 years in Settlement to Streetcar Suburbs: Richmond and its People, a replica of Edward V. Valentine’s sculpture studio, a look at how the Valentines and others made history and preserved it, and Signs of the Times, vintage neon signs from Richmond’s bygone days. Serving salads, sandwiches, and paninis, Café Richmond, located within the history center, offers outdoor dining in the lovely garden or indoor dining year-round. The museum is closed on most Mon, but check the Web site for details. Admission is $8.