The Valentine is back with its first walking tours of the season. If you haven’t yet experienced Richmond’s history on foot, here’s a brief overview of what this organization does + its upcoming adventures.
The Valentine
The Valentine is a small museum near city center + VCU that is packed with local history. It’s also the first private museum in Richmond (it opened in 1898). It was founded by Mann S. Valentine, Jr., a businessman who made his fortune off of Valentine’s Meat Juice, a health drink made of pure beef juice. We can’t make this stuff up.
A favorite offering from The Valentine is guided tours around the city, offered to the public each spring through October. Be sure to reserve tickets in advance. Bonus: children under 18 get free admission.
Upcoming tours
Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery
- 1.5-2 miles
- $10 for members, $20 for non-members
- Tomorrow, April 23 at 10:00 a.m. + Sun., May 8 at 2 p.m.
- Learn about the 18,000 Civil War dead, famous dead folk, and the cemetary’s complicated legacy.
History of Church Hill
- 1-2 miles
- $10 for members, $20 for non-members
- Sun., April 24 at 2 p.m. + Sun., May 22 at 2 p.m.
- Tour one of Richmond’s oldest neighborhoods + learn about its history and modern-day renovations.
Monument Avenue: Origins and Reverberations Augmented Reality
- 1-2 miles
- $10 for members, $25 for non-members
- Sun., May 1 at 2 p.m. + Thurs., May 5 at 6 p.m.
- Slip on augmented reality glasses for this innovative tour that explores the past + present of this evolving street.
Figures of Freedom Downtown
- 1 mile
- $10 for members, $20 for non-members
- Thurs., April 28 at 6 p.m. + Sat., May 21 at 10 a.m.
- This Shockoe Bottom tour includes the legacy of Richmond’s indigenous inhabitants, enslaved people fighting to be free, and Dr. Mary Walker. Bonus: This tour is family-friendly with a kid’s scavenger hunt.
Ballot Battle: Richmond Suffrage
- 1-2 miles
- $10 for members, $20 for non-members
- Thurs., May 12 at 6 p.m. + Thurs., June 9 at 6 p.m.
- Explore the famous sites connected to the pro-suffrage activists and anti-suffrage opposition of the early 1900s.
Murals of Jackson Ward
- 1-2 miles
- $10 for members, $20 for non-members
- Sat., May 14 at 10 a.m. + Thurs., May 19 at 6 p.m.
- Learn how the art of Jackson Ward tells the story of its past, from the “Harlem of the South” to today’s community.
Pro tip: You might want to consider a membership — you get free museum admission, perks like free parking complimentary guest passes, plus discounted prices on tours.
Check the Valentine’s events calendar for walking tour dates through October.