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Walking tour of Chimborazo Park tells the story of Reconstruction

Richmond National Battlefield Park is inviting residents and visitors to spend their Saturday evenings in July with Park Rangers exploring the area’s rich Civil War history.

Starting on July 11, rangers will conduct walking tours looking at aspects of either the Totopotomoy Creek battlefield or Richmond’s Chimborazo Hospital. Each program begins at 7 PM and will last between 60 and 90 minutes.

Programs are:

July 11 – Encounter at Rural Plains: Totopotomoy Creek, 1864

This program explores the intertwined destinies of opposing soldiers and one Southern family through an 80-hour encounter on Totopotomoy Creek during the Overland Campaign in 1864. The program will last approximately 90 minutes and include one mile of walking. Meet at Totopotomoy Creek battlefield, 7273 Studley Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116

July 18 – Chimborazo’s Post-War History: Reconstruction on the Hill

After the Union occupation of Richmond, Chimborazo Hill went from an enormous Confederate hospital to a place of residence for thousands of newly freed slaves, and remained so through the Reconstruction years. Until recently, the Freedmen’s Bureau, schools, and racial violence at Chimborazo had largely been forgotten. Join the ranger for this 3/4 mile walking tour, based on newly discovered primary sources. Meet at Chimborazo Medical Museum, 3215 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23223

July 25 – A Hidden Corner of the Totopotomoy Creek Battlefield: A Visit to the Historic Washington Jones Farm

This evening talk/tour affords an opportunity to see a section of the battlefield–the Jones Farm–that is not normally accessible to the public. Part of the Union 2nd Corps fought there, and eventually seized the south bank of the creek during the battle. The original house survives, adjacent to “Pine Slash” of Patrick Henry fame. There will be very little walking on this tour. Meet at 6357 Olde Thomas Court, an extension of Pine Slash Road.

Details, changes, and additions to programs on this schedule can be found on the park’s Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/RichmondNPS), website (www.nps.gov/rich), or by calling the park at (804) 226-1981. All programs are free and open to the public.