Hi, friends! Im relatively new to the area and I have friends coming to visit this weekend. We are all a bit broke so we wanna do mostly free or super cheap activities. I know the majority of those free activities will probably be historical sites and museums which is perfect because we love that stuff. The issue is they will only be here for 1.5 days, so we won’t be able to see that many things. What would y’all say are the absolute must-see historical (free or cheap) places? I’ve heard Maymont, the Poe museum, and Hollywood cemetery are great options. I’m also open to other suggestions that are cheap but not necessarily historical sites. Thank you!

Comments

rva-fantom t1_iwc5729 wrote on November 14, 2022 at 3:36 PM

#526,759

St John’s Church. To stand in the place that the Give me Liberty speech was given is truly surreal. The speech that practically convinced Virginia to sign on for war which basically was the pivotal state that got everyone else on board and made the Revolution a reality… that’s a pretty cool thing.

GMUcovidta t1_iwc5adc wrote on November 14, 2022 at 3:37 PM

#526,763

The Capital and Old City Hall, St. John's Church, Agecroft Hall, John Marshall House, Tredegar Iron Works, Maymont

Diet_Coke t1_iwc5naq wrote on November 14, 2022 at 3:39 PM

#526,783

VMFA is free except for the special exhibition, and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture next door just got a major renovation too.

dalhectar t1_iwc6vlv wrote on November 14, 2022 at 3:47 PM

#526,853

State Capital

geronimoanonymo t1_iwc8xtf wrote on November 14, 2022 at 4:01 PM

#526,974

Replying to Diet_Coke (#526,783)

And the Virginia Museum of History and Culture has started free First Fridays every month from 5-8. Free admission, 2 dollars off drinks, with food trucks and family activities.

geronimoanonymo t1_iwc92fx wrote on November 14, 2022 at 4:02 PM

#526,981

Replying to geronimoanonymo (#526,974)

Oh nvm, my reading comprehension has left me. I see they are here this weekend. However, you should check out the first Friday sometime!

[deleted] t1_iwc9p0g wrote on November 14, 2022 at 4:07 PM

#527,020

[deleted]

OddWelcome2502 t1_iwcf83f wrote on November 14, 2022 at 4:44 PM

#527,385

I would do VMFA, Maymont, and Hollywood.

[deleted] t1_iwcgt8p wrote on November 14, 2022 at 4:55 PM

#527,470

Replying to [deleted] (#527,020)

[removed]

iinaytanii t1_iwchqs8 wrote on November 14, 2022 at 5:01 PM

#527,533

The Maggie Walker House is a often overlooked museum that’s amazing. It’s a really good tour of the house, what life was like then, insight into who she was and why she was important, and the historic significance of Jackson Ward.

Follow it up with a drive out to Evergreen Cemetery to see her grave and check out the very pretty yet overgrown old section of the cemetery

borkus t1_iwcim2b wrote on November 14, 2022 at 5:07 PM

#527,592

Replying to dalhectar (#526,853)

The State Capital and the Executive Mansion are both worth a visit. Executive Mansion is Friday only.
https://www.executivemansion.virginia.gov/

JangoFettJunior t1_iwcojpj wrote on November 14, 2022 at 5:46 PM

#527,967

Hollywood Cemetery

Stitchmond t1_iwcsj8g wrote on November 14, 2022 at 6:12 PM

#528,157

Replying to rva-fantom (#526,759)

Check out the cemetery there too, there's a gravestone marking the final resting place of a cat!

richsam76 t1_iwcsugk wrote on November 14, 2022 at 6:14 PM

#528,181

Shirley Plantation

The_DanceCommander t1_iwcz2z2 wrote on November 14, 2022 at 6:54 PM

#528,511

Replying to borkus (#527,592)

Yes OP definitely go inside the capital! The whole building feels like a museum and you can walk all through it unrestricted except going on the floors. Really neat stuff to see in there, and then walk around the grounds.