IEEE SoutheastCon 2007 Social Activities and Tourism Information
Explore the Commonwealth and it’s Capitol – Richmond, VA
Historic, Hip & Easy to Love
Richmond was founded in 1607 by Captains Christopher Newport and John Smith. William Byrd II named the city Richmond because the bend in the James River is similar to that of the Thames in Richmond, England. Here you will find more than 400 years of history including the second successful English settlement, the site of Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech and the former capital of the Confederacy. The Richmond Region is also an area of firsts. From the first American hospital and first U.S. canal system to the nation's first African American governor and the South's first television station, we're continuing to make our mark.
Richmond, Virginia’s central location makes it the ideal home base for day trips. Mountains, beaches, historic areas, Southern plantations and our nation's Capitol are just a few of the attractions within a day's drive of the Region. With four distinct seasons, including an incredible display of fall foliage, it's always the perfect time to visit.
Attractions
Jamestown 2007
Commemorating one of the proudest moments of the new century!
The very essence of modern America took root on the banks of the James River in 1607, at Jamestown, Virginia ...13 years before the Pilgrims founded Plymouth in Massachusetts.
The goal of this very special anniversary is to capture the spirit, imagination, and diversity of Americans and develop that energy into a myriad of community programs, signature events, and national and international festivities that showcases Virginia's unique role as the birthplace of modern America and the cradle of American democratic traditions, cultures, ideologies and principles - 400 years strong.
Governor's Mansion
Capitol Square
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone:
Tour Information: (804) 371-2642
Visitors revel in the rich history and charming stories of the Executive Mansion. The oldest, continuously occupied governor's residence in the United States, this Federal-style structure has been the home of Virginia Governors and their families since 1813. Today's residents include Governor Mark Warner and his wife, Lisa Collis and their family. The Mansion, which is both a Virginia and National Historic Landmark, was restored and furnished with antiques in the early 20th century. The original rooms across the front of the mansion contain most of their original woodwork, plaster cornices, and ornamental ceilings.
During the Civil War, the Mansion served as the center of state leadership, when Richmond was the Capitol of the Confederate States of America. Tours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Extended tours during Garden Week.
Museums on the Boulevard
P.O. Box 11782
Richmond, VA 23230
Telephone:
Phone: (804) 306-5565
Fax: (804) 367-8410
Web site: http://www.mobmus.org/
Museums on the Boulevard (MOB) is a consortium of seven institutions stretched out along Richmond's Boulevard, a main north-south corridor. The seven institutions present a sampling of gardens, art, history, science and children's themes and include: The Children's Museum of Richmond, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Maymont, The Science Museum of Virginia, The Virginia Department of Historic Resources, The Virginia Historical Society, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The MOB works together in promoting collaborative efforts and creating a strong sense of place for the Boulevard and the surrounding neighborhoods, thereby enhancing Richmond as a tourism destination. Children Welcome.
Graveyard Tour
St. John's Church
2401 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23223
Telephone:
Gift Shop and Tour Operations: (804) 648-5015
Fax: (804) 649-0878
Web site: http://www.historicstjohnschurch.org/pages/history.htm
Visit St. John's Church for an interesting and informative Graveyard Tour of this historic church. You will meet four individuals who are buried in the graveyard; Elizabeth Arnold Poe, Edward Carrington, George Wythe, and an anonymous woman, attending her children's graves. St. John’s Church was the first church built in the city of Richmond and also the first public cemetery. It was originally known as the Henrico Parish Church. In 1737, William Byrd II and Major William Mayo laid out the city of Richmond. It was not until 1740 when William Byrd II granted the vestry two lots in the newly laid out city of Richmond that construction could begin. Byrd also gave the timber running to Shockoe Creek for the boards and scrap wood to fire the bricks for the foundation. It is believed that the church was completed on June 10, 1741.
Hours: Opens: 10:00 AM Closes: 4:00 PM
Admission Fee: $5.00
Hollywood Cemetery
Cherry and Albemarle Streets
Richmond, VA 23220
Telephone:
Phone: (804) 648-8501
Web site: http://www.hollywoodcemetery.org/
Named for its multitude of holly trees, Hollywood Cemetery opened in 1849. President Monroe is buried here along with the first battle casualty of the Civil War. More than 18,000 Confederate soldiers came to rest here beneath an amazing 90 foot mortarless pyramid. President John Tyler, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Gen. J.E.B. Stuart also buried here
The Museum and White House of the Confederacy
The White House of the Confederacy, South Portico
Museum of the Confederacy
1201 E. Clay Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone:
Visitor Services Desk: (804) 649-1861
Fax: (804) 649-1460
Web site: http://www.mobmus.org/
Come face to face with history at The Museum of the Confederacy, the leading center for the study of the Confederacy in the American Civil War!
A private non-profit educational & preservation organization, the Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of artifacts, manuscripts & images associated with the domestic, military & political life during the period of the Confederacy. Exhibits feature the personal effects of Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and other Confederate figures of the Civil War. Take a guided tour of the White House of the Confederacy, home to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family throughout the war. The mansion contains over half the furnishings that were here with the Davis family. Find unique Civil War items at the Museum's Haversack Store. Children Welcome.
Open Daily Monday - Saturday, 10-5, Sunday, 12-5.
Civil War Trails
Various Locations
Richmond, VA 23220
Web site: http://www.civilwartraveler.com/virginia/
Experience the Civil War dramatically by tracing the five different Civil War Trails throughout the state -- 260 sites tell stories never before told, through pictures, battle maps, and clear interpretation. Travelers can spend two days or two weeks following the campaigns fought in Virginia through 79 cities and counties. Each site is car-accessible and describes events specific to that location.
Drewry's Bluff
3215 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23223
Telephone:
Phone: (804) 226-1981
Web site: http://www.nps.gov/rich/
Union soldiers called this Confederate guardian of the James River, Fort Darling. On May, 15 five Federal vessels, including the famous ironclad Monitor; attacked the fort but were driven off. The unsuccessful attack prevented Richmond from being shelled early in the war, and the presence of the fort was a deterrent to other Union naval forays up the James. The fort and surrounding area served as the Confederate Naval Academy and Marine Corps Camp of Instruction during much of the war. Exhibits along a self-guiding trail give details of the fort's history.
Fan District
Telephone:
Phone: (804) 782-2777
Said to be the largest intact Victorian Neighborhood in the U.S. with approximately 2,000 townhouses in the diverse architectural styles of that period. The streets spread out towards the west in the shape of a fan, hence the name of this historic district. After spending some time admiring the different styles, stop in at one of the many restaurants scattered throughout the Fan District.
Poe, Edgar Allan Museum
1914 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23223
Telephone:
Phone: (804) 648-5523
Phone: (888) 21E-APOE
Web site: http://www.poemuseum.org/
Richmond's only literary museum honors this great American Writer with the world's largest collection of Poe artifacts. The Museum was opened in 1922 in the Old Stone House, Richmond's oldest standing structure, only blocks away from the sites of Poe's first Richmond home and first place of employment. The Museum maintains a library and encourages students, scholars and devotees of the writer to utilize its extensive collection of books and manuscripts.
Richmond's Canal Walk
14th and Dock Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone:
Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau: (804) 782-2777
Richmond Riverfront Corporation: (804) 648-6549
Web site: http://www.richmondriverfront.com/canalwalk.shtml
Richmond's Canal Walk meanders 1.25 miles through downtown Richmond along the banks of the Haxall Canal and the James River & Kanawha Canal. Open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, the Canal Walk (Brown's Island itself is open sunrise to sunset except in the case of a special event) may be accessed by traveling South (toward the River) on 5th, 7th, Virginia, 14th, 15th, and 17th Streets. Find the James River in Downtown Richmond, and you have found the Canal Walk!
Please come and enjoy the Richmond Civil War Visitor Center, 22 History Medallions throughout the Canal Walk, new outdoor exhibits, Canal Cruises, and the scenic James River. Visit our web site to see our listing of special events.
Richmond's Canal Walk is wheelchair accessible at the end of 5th Street, 12th Street, 14th Street and 17th Street.
Virginia State Capitol
9th and East Grace Streets
Capitol Square
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone:
walking tour information and reservations: (804) 698-1788
Web site: http://legis.state.va.us/cap_tours/tour_info/tour_info_small.html
Designed by Thomas Jefferson, the Capitol was first occupied in 1788 by Virginia's General Assembly, the oldest English-speaking legislative body in the western hemisphere. During the Civil War, the Confederate Congress also met here. The east (House) and west (Senate) wings were added between 1904-1906.
The Capitol is presently closed for important renovations and improvements, scheduled for completion in December 2006. Until the Capitol re-opens, a visitor contact station staffed with guides and containing simple exhibits will operate on Capitol Square. Free 45-minute outdoor walking tours of the historic grounds and public monuments in Capitol Square are offered daily (except holidays), weather permitting. Individuals, families and tour groups are welcome (reservations are needed for groups of 10 or more). Call for more info.
Children & Family Fun Attractions
Children's Museum of Richmond
2626 W. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Phone: (804) 474-2667
Web site: http://www.c-mor.org/
Price: General Admission $7.00 (After 4pm admission is only $4!)~ Under Age One FREE~ Seniors $1.00 off general admission~ Groups $5.00-$7.00 per person (organization with 10 minimum paid children and advance reservation - call 474-7011)
Seymour the Friendly Dinosaur invites you to come and play at the Children's Museum of Richmond today!
Seymour Says: It's fun to learn, it's fun to play. Through play we learn more every day!
It’s not every day that a six year-old can run freely, exploring caves and climbing up to eagles’ nests. Or a four-year old can learn to do his own grocery shopping, and harvest apples in an orchard. Or pint-sized performers can create their very own theater production, complete with sound, lighting and ticket sales. But when they come to the Children’s Museum of Richmond, they can.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
1800 Lakeside Avenue
Richmond, VA 23228-4700
Phone: (804) 262-9887
Web site: http://www.lewisginter.org/
Price: $9 adults; $8 seniors age 55+; $5 children ages 3 - 12; children under 3 and members free.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden features distinctive themed gardens, as well as a Conservatory with indoor displays of orchids and tropical plants. The Children's Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a learning landscape of exploration and fun featuring a Tree House, Water Play, Children's Greenhouse, International Villages and more. The Garden Shop at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden features an extensive collection of garden accents, containers, books, gifts, toys, and jewelry. Open Daily; 9 - 5 p.m. with extended hours until sunset on select Thursdays in April, during Garden Week, and on Thursdays in July, August and September.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden blooms year-round with beauty and includes more than 40 acres of spectacular gardens as well as shopping and dining. The Garden is open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is located just north of downtown Richmond off I-95 at the corner of Lakeside Avenue and Hilliard Road.
Maymont
2201 Shields Lake Drive - Visitor Center
Richmond, VA 23220
Phone: (804) 358-7166
Fax: (804) 358-9994
Web site: http://www.maymont.org/
Price: Free admission; donations requested: Maymont House $5 suggested donation/ Nature Center $4 suggested donation. Maymont Tram: fee $3/$2 under 12/members free. Carriage Rides: fee $3/$2 under 12. Hay Wagon Rides: fee $2/$1 under 12.Indoor Exhibits: Tuesday-Sunday, 12-5pm Grounds: Daily, 10am-5pm (Hampton & Spottswood entrances open until 7pm in warmer months)
Maymont, A Grand Estate from Virginia's Gilded Age:
Maymont Gardens and Landscapes:
Maymont - Animals and The Environment:
Maymont Events and Activities:
MAYMONT: ONE WONDER-FILLED PLACE! The story of Maymont began in 1893, when a wealthy Richmond couple, James and Sallie Dooley, completed their elaborate Gilded Age estate on a site high above the James River. Upon their deaths and according to their wishes, Maymont--including its architectural complex, the splendid, 100-acre landscape, and a collection of exquisite furnishings--was left to the people of Richmond. Over the next 75 years, additional attractions were thoughtfully added, culminating in a one-of-a-kind showplace.
Science Museum of Virginia
2500 W. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23220
Phone: (804) 864-1400
Fax: (804) 864-1488
Web site: http://www.smv.org/
Price: Exhibits: Adults (age 13 to 59) $10, seniors (age 60 & over), active military & youth (age 4 to 12): $9, children 3 & under with paid adult are free; Movie Only: $8.50 all ages, children 3 and under with paid adult are free; Combination: Adults (age 13 to 59) $17.50, seniors (age 60 and over), active military & youth (age 4 to 12) $16.50, children 3 & under with paid adult are free Exhibits: Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. IMAX Dome: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday, noon- 5 p.m.
The older Richmonders among us recall the bustle of the Broad Street railroad station, but youngsters know the historic building for the fun it has provided for the past two decades as the state's science museum. Scores of hands-on exhibits await to impart information about chemistry, computers, natural science, electricity and physics - all under the guise of good, clean fun. From Crystal World to the computer lab to sitting in an airplane or a space capsule, there is most definitely something for everyone here. Traveling exhibits and the latest in IMAX films are rotated through the museum, so call to find the latest attractions. The museum shop is a favorite among youngsters with all sorts of toys, books and gadgets available. Memberships are a must for anyone contemplating more than one family visit during the year.
Paramount's Kings Dominion
16000 Theme Park Way
Doswell, VA 23047
Farther Afield
(804) 876-5000
Web site: http://www2.paramountparks.com/kingsdominion/
Located 20 miles north of Richmond, Kings Dominion has been drawing families on the hunt for summer fun for more than 25 years. With 11 roller coasters - including the Volcano, the Grizzly and the new-for-2001 Hypersonic XLC -- Paramount's Kings Dominion delivers more roller coasters in one place
Busch Garden’s Williamsburg
Web site: http://www.buschgardens.com/buschgardens/va/
With dozens of thrilling rides and attractions, ten main stage shows, a wide variety of authentic foods and shops, and a magical children's area, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is the ticket to a world-class adventure.
2006 Admission Rates
Regular admission $51.95
Child admission (ages 3 to 6) $44.95
Children 2 and under Free
Parking $8
Campers & Preferred Parking $13
Tour buses are eligible for free parking.
Virginia Resident Fun Card
Introducing the Fun Card, exclusively for Virginia residents. Pay for a day* and get unlimited visits to Busch Gardens Europe through September 4, 2006. Offer expires May 31st. Some restrictions may apply.
*Based on full-priced Regular general admission of $51.95. Ages 3 & above (Child rate does not apply).
The information provided by the IEEE SoutheastCon 2007 Committee is intended for informational purposes only. While IEEE SoutheastCon 2007 makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information for its attendees, it does not endorse, approve or certify such information, nor does it guarantee its accuracy, pricing, completeness or timeliness.
IEEE SoutheastCon 2007 disclaims warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of title or implied warranties of fitness, preparation, safety for a particular purpose, with respect to any process or serviced purchased, obtained or procured from our informational handouts.