Autumn in Richmond

This visit we are staying in a new hotel in a different part of town - the Arts District.  It is an interesting mixture of newly renovated buildings and old shopfronts and signs like this one, just along from the hotel.

It was a clear, bright morning so I decided to walk the 45 minutes to the museums - firstly past the buildings of Virginia Commonwealth University - this performance venue is near completion and very striking amongst the older buildings.

Some interesting murals along the main road..

Once into the residential side streets, a wide variety of styles of old houses and churches in leafy avenues..

A synagogue and church just along the road..

Many different styles of houses - the majority in Richmond are built of stone or brick and painted in different colours.

Some majestic monuments..

This is one of the monuments to a Confederate General currently causing controversy.  The three figures on pushbikes are police officers  - not guarding the monument but about to set off on patrol.

At the end of my walk were three museums..

This is the museum and archive of the United Daughters of the Confederacy is only open by appointment and is intended for those who are descended from the soldiers fighting for the Confederate side in the Civil War.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a great place - but today I only visited the garden and cafe!

Then on to the Virginia Historical Society which I had not visited before..

More about the permanent exhibits and the ‘Toys of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s’ exhibition another day..

I also walked back to the hotel - and got slightly lost - hence coming across the Catholic Cathedral..

Also the Altria Theatre.  Very large and difficult to photograph due to a construction site on the opposite side of the road.  This is another theatre like the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, created from a Shriner Temple..

So plenty of exercise and fresh air today and a great walk.