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.

Petersburg, Virginia

David had a meeting today at Virginia State University outside Petersburg so we had a quick look at the historic downtown area on the way.

There is an octagonal Farmers Market building dating back to the late 19th Century.  Unfortunately closed at present but it was possible to glimpse the inside through the window..

Petersburg was the site of many significant Civil War battles and there are still many gaps in the buildings - although many old buildings that survived are preserved.

To get to the University we crossed the Appomattox River..

Quite different in each direction - this side of the bridge looked natural.

On the other side of the bridge the river was dammed and managed for industrial use.

The University is built on a hill at Ettrick just outside Petersburg.

It was built just after the Civil War - the first University in America to be built primarily for black students. 

There are many student halls around the campus.  Many of the 6,000 students must be housed there.

Once I had explored I enjoyed the shade in this little pagoda and read a book!

At the Farm Park

As well as the Maize Maze yesterday we enjoyed looking at the other attractions at the Fall Festival.  Lots of pumpkins of course..

Some unusually shaped Butternut Squash..

And of course the extraordinary ornamental gourds..

There was also piglet racing..

Sack races..

A chance to try out a special chair..

Or ride on the ‘cow train’ (we didn’t!)..

And a tour around the farm buildings to see some of the animals..

All in all a good afternoon!