Richmond History Center offers a diverse selection of tours to visitors and locals throughout the year. Though tour topics change from season to season, past tours have included a Civil War Sampler tour, exploring Richmond's key role in the Civil War as capital of the Confederacy. The tour featured such historic sites as Gaines Mill and Cold Harbor battle fields, Church Hill and Shockoe Bottom. The center has also offered a Let Freedom Ring tour, exploring Patrick Henry and Richmond's role in American Independence. Stops included St. John's Church and Capitol Square. Other popular tours have included explorations of Richmond's Jewish history, a tour of African American Cemeteries and a look at Richmond's many Lewis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows.
Richmond History Center
1015 East Clay Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 649-0711
richmondhistorycenter.com
Suffolk Visitor Center offers two narrated bus tours on specified dates throughout spring and summer. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge tour explores the expansive wildlife refuge, home to such species as river otter, bobcat, black bear and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. In 2008, a wildfire swept through approximately 5000 acres of the Great Dismal Swamp. This half-day narrated tour explores the swamp's rebirth as well the unique ecological impact of the area. It also highlights historical aspects of the Great Dismal Swamp such as its role in the Underground Railroad.
The center's other tour is the Historic Downtown Suffolk Narrated Bus Tour. This 90-minute tour features downtown Suffolk's historic homes, neighborhoods and churches as well as educational information on the Nansemond Indians and Captain John Smith's historic connection to the city.
Suffolk Visitor Center
321 North Main Street
Suffolk, VA 23434
(757) 514-4130
suffolk-fun.com
For movie buffs, Virginia Film Tours offers one- and two-day narrated tours of movie sites throughout Richmond and the surrounding area. Tours include historic sites, plantations and Virginia's horse country. Featured movie sites include John Marshall Hotel, where a memorable ball scene from "Gone With the Wind" was filmed, and the River District where scenes from "Cold Mountain" and "The Jackal" were shot. Various tours also highlight downtown Richmond and its role in the films "Hearts in Atlantis" and "Hannibal." The company offers bus tours for large groups and van tours for smaller groups of four to nine.
Virginia Film Tours LLC
4932 Long Shadow Drive
Midlothian, VA, 23112
(804) 744-1718
virginiafilmtours.com
