The trail’s 21 stops include stories of peril, power, and promise. | Photos provided by Visit Fredericksburg, Virginia
Did you know? Fredericksburg — just an hour from Richmond — played an important role in the fight for civil rights.
The Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail shares the powerful stories of Black residents who stood up for equality and helped shape the city’s history.
Launched in 2023, the trail is a collaboration between the City of Fredericksburg, the University of Mary Washington’s James Farmer Multicultural Center, and UMW faculty + students.
📰 Historical highlights
The trail takes visitors to landmarks highlighting Fredericksburg’s impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
One stop marks the city as the starting point of the 1961 Freedom Rides — a journey that challenged segregation in the South. Today, a special marker honors those who took that brave stand.
Another key stop tells the story of Walker-Grant High School, where, in 1950, a group of students protested for equality. Their actions became a turning point in Fredericksburg’s civil rights movement, and the school stands as a symbol of their resilience.
The first part of the trail is a 2.6-mile walking tour through Fredericksburg’s historic downtown.
The second part of the trail starts at the University of Mary Washington’s campus, where you can explore stops like Shiloh Cemetery and the Dorothy Hart Community Center. This section is a mix of 0.5 miles of walking and 1.9 miles of driving.
🚙 Where to park
Short-term parking is available next to the Visitor Center, with additional parking two blocks away at the Sophia Street Parking Garage.
Curious to learn more? Listen to the online audio map to uncover more stories of influential people and places that made history.
Spring Petals & Pints | 6 p.m. | Hardywood Park Brewing: West Creek | $45 | Create a gorgeous flower arrangement at this guided workshop paired with pints and food truck eats.
Friday, April 11
Blackwell Drip Mural Projection Show | 6-10 p.m. | 1621 Hull St. | Free | Local artist Dustin Klein will project motion, color, and sound onto a local mural, igniting new life into cityscape art.
BLK Virginia Theatre Alliance: “Sunset Baby” | Friday, April 11-Sunday, April 13 | Times vary | Virginia Repertory Theatre Gym | $30 | Experience Dominique Morisseau’s poignant theater production about family, identity, and self-discovery.
Saturday, April 12
RVA Coffee Crawl | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Locations vary | $40 | Explore Richmond’s diverse coffee scene, end the day with a guided tasting, and know that 100% of your ticket cost will go toward emergency grants for local food service workers in crisis.
Sunday, April 13
Sunday Bagel Pop-Up | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Odd Bird | Price of purchase | Pre-order bagels online now or head to Jackson Ward to grab your Sunday breakfast from this elusive local pop-up — heads up, they sell out fast.
It’s a cold-weather week, RVA. Yesterday, How’s the James reported high-risk water temperatures with a severe risk of hypothermia. Hold off on recreational river activities until warmer weather returns to boost the temps, and be sure to check in before taking your next dip.
Announced
Richmonder Lucy Dacus is coming home for a concert at Altria Theater. Witness her perform on Friday, Sept. 19. Ticket presale starts today at 12 p.m., and official ticket sales open on Friday, April 11 at 12 p.m. These tickets will probably go quickly. I know I’ll be grabbing one.
Travel
Beginning on Thursday, June 12, Spirit Airlines will offer nonstop flights from Richmond International Airport to Detroit Metro Airport, adding to a growing list of direct trips. Book your flight + before you go, check out our comprehensive airport guide.
Coming Soon
A new farm-fresh restaurant is coming to fruition in West End. Grace will take over the former location of Odyssey Fish and Billy Pie on Patterson Avenue. Owner Jessica Wilson aims to open the “vegetable-forward” restaurant this spring. (Richmond BizSense)
Edu
Richmond Public Schools will host “Enseña con Amor” — a bilingual teacher hiring session — on Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Head to River City Middle School to connect with hiring teams, interview, and potentially leave with a job offer. (WRIC)
Community
Local coffee shop Rostov’s took to Instagram to make a transparent announcement about menu pricing. The shop informed customers that they may experience price increases due to new tariffs and increased coffee prices.
We know you’re smart (you subscribe to RICtoday, after all), but we all have our blind spots when it comes to spending. Here are the 11 dumbest things smart people waste money on.*
Biz
Put your business’s product or service in front of 35,000+ locals in our upcoming Parents’ Gift Guide. Don’t wait — secure your spot just in time for Mother’s Day + Father’s Day celebrations.
Job
Join 6AM City as a Sales Executive in Richmond or Arlington, VA. Drive digital advertising growth, build client relationships, and earn uncapped commissions. Enjoy flexible work, premium benefits, and career development opportunities. Apply today and make an impact in the future of local media.
The Buttermilk Trail is named for a cool spring on the trail where deliverymen would stockpile cans of dairy. Photo via Capital Region Land Conservancy
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We all want the best for our pets, and premium care can come at a premium cost. With pet insurance, you can reduce the strain on your budget, whether it’s for treating a chronic condition or an unexpected emergency.*
Pocahontas State Park is one of my favorite places to get outdoorsy in the Richmond area. I don’t own a bike, but it’s a warm-weather goal of mine to borrow a friend’s and hit the trails. Check out today’s hiking guide for our Pocahontas pick + a link to the park’s trail map.
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