Featured Stories
Belle Bryan Day Nursery and the Richmond Women’s Christian Association
All mothers work. But the title of “working mother” is now associated with contemporary history, tied to women’s employment. But mothers have always worked outside the home, especially mothers from poor households. Here in Richmond, major industries thrived on the exploitation of largely women workforces, both Black and white.
Jewish Family Services
Explore the history of the Jewish faith here in Richmond and one of the premiere service organizations that grew out of this community.
1811 Richmond Theater Fire
Richmond Theater Fire in 1811 that killed 72 people including the governor of Virginia.
Bill “Bojangles” Robinson: Richmond History Maker
Bill “Bojangles” Robinson – a dancer, a philanthropist, a star, a Richmonder.
Mary Munford: Richmond History Maker
Mary Munford once wrote to a friend: “Education has been my deepest interest from my girlhood, beginning with an almost passionate desire for the best in education for myself, which was denied because it was not the custom for girls in my class to receive a college education at that time. This interest has grown with my growth and strengthened with each succeeding year in my life.”
Richmond and the Olympic Torch
Are you surprised that Richmond has an Olympic history? It does! In 1996, the Olympic torch passed through and even spent the night here, on its way to Atlanta.
James Monroe and the “Era of Good Feelings”
Monroe, in his 1817 inaugural address, declared that “discord does not belong in our system.” He then claimed that his main goal as president would be to foster “harmony among Americans.” He believed this harmony depended on the extinction of all political parties.
Bingo!
For much of the 20th century, Virginia has had some of the strictest anti-gambling laws in the country.
Monument Avenue: Robert. E. Lee Monument
It took nearly twenty years to erect a monument to Robert E. Lee in Richmond, and it came down in less than two.