Fall is a special time for historians. They emerge from dank, subterranean museum lairs where they have weathered the listless days of summer heat poring over cobwebbed tomes and cataloging artifacts. They brush the dust from unkempt whiskers and tresses with their fingernails and take an uncertain, canine sniff of the crisp fall air as they reestablish contact with the present day.
Then they scream and jump backwards.
In the blindingly unfamiliar light of day, they failed to notice a historical Richmond tour group on Segways headed right toward them. The historians scurry back inside.
While this anecdote is entirely made up and depicts historians with wildly unflattering inaccuracy, the intended point is that Richmond is a city of abundant historical offerings, many of which are located outside the city’s excellent museums. Here are some options for those who want a dose of Richmond history but just can’t stand to be inside on a lovely fall day.
The Valentine Richmond History Center Tours
The Valentine Richmond History Center offers tours on a variety of subjects via three modes of transportation—bus, Segway, and walking. Bus tours ($23, reservations required at 649-0711 ex. 301) are a great way to learn about the city without the added distraction of being on your feet. Upcoming options include the African American History Tour (Nov. 6), focusing on the historical roles of blacks in the city and notable black Richmonders and I Know Richmond (Nov. 27), an overview of the city’s history.
Those wishing to transition toward walking without actually making any leg movements can mount up on a Segway for the Hollywood Cemetery Segway Tour ($50, Oct. 23, reservations through Segway of Richmond). The guide will explain the cemetery’s history and point out its famous residents and, as Lesley Bruno of the Valentine Center notes, "the cemetery has lots of fun hills."
Finally, anyone insistent on actually transporting their own body mass can opt for a walking tour such as Canal Boats and Cobblestones ($10, Oct. 24), a peek at historical treasures along the James.
Segway of Richmond Tours
The magical Segway machine, despite being a spectacularly useless transportation innovation, is apparently pretty fun to cruise around town on.
For anyone who takes the Hollywood tour and catches the Segway gyroscopic itch, Segway of Richmond offers tours every day in both micro-tour and full-length formats; favorites include the Richmond Landmark tour, an overview of Richmond points of interest.
Richmond Slave Trail
There are some places in this world a Segway can’t travel—lots of them, actually—and the Richmond Slave Trail is one of them.
The trail begins at the Manchester docks on Southside, proceeds along the south shore, crosses the 14th Street Bridge, then ends by Main Street Station at the site of the notorious Lumpkin’s slave jail and the Burial Ground for Negroes. The tour focuses on Richmond’s role as an exporter of slaves during the 1800s.
Various entities run tours of the trail, including James River Parks Director Ralph White ($5 contribution to park fund, tours by appointment at 646-8911), the Elegba Folklore Society, and Hope in the Cities.
Poe Museum Unhappy Hour
This month’s Poe Museum Unhappy Hour (Oct. 28) theme is "Fall of the House of Usher," which focuses, of course, on Halloween. Costumes are encouraged, hors d'oeuvres are provided and a cash bar will be available for Poe patrons.
Additionally, October’s Unhappy Hour will feature the paranormal investigative group Spirited History, who will show off various ghost-busting gadgets and video and audio clips they’ve captured of strange phenomena.
Maymont Mourning Obsessions Tour
Those who don’t get their fill of morbidity at the Poe Museum might want to head to the Maymont Mourning Obsessions Tour ($7, Oct. 30 and Oct. 31, not appropriate for children) for a look at the mourning customs of 19th century.
The tour is led by costumed interpreters who explain the Victorian obsession with death and the ways in which it manifested. Notably, the Victorians observed strict mourning guidelines, advertised their loss with streamers on the doorway and employed mourning objects such as tear-catchers so they could hang onto those tears for years to come.
Don’t let the creepiness of bereaved Victorians drive you back into your musty museum hideaway. Get out there, hop on your faithful Segway and take advantage of the bounty of historical adventures Richmond has to offer.
Brent Merritt is a native Richmonder and 2009 UVA grad. He recently returned from a year in Spain and is enjoying life on the Northside of the city. Follow him on twitter @brentmerritt.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement