| Petersburg, Virginia is a city steeped in history. The | | | | century and display the ornamental flourishes and detail |
| city's unique history predates America itself, pushing all | | | | typical of the Victorian period. The inventory of |
| the way back to 1643 with the founding of Bristol | | | | buildings in need of renovation is substantial and best |
| Parish preciously close to the Appomattox River. Fort | | | | of all the prices are among the most reasonable on |
| Henry was erected nearby a few years later. The | | | | the East Coast. |
| entire area grew into Peter's Point, and then into | | | | The Military Historian |
| Petersburg when established into a town in 1748. | | | | At Fort Lee, a military installation sandwiched between |
| Hundreds of years later, Petersburg has slowly made | | | | Petersburg and Hopewell, more than 70,000 visitors a |
| the transition from town to city. The proximity to | | | | year tour the Quartermaster Museum which presents |
| Richmond has allowed for easy access which pairs | | | | the history and heritage of the oldest logistic branch of |
| nicely with a history which can only be described as | | | | the United States Army, the Quartermaster Corps. |
| "rich." Who then visits Petersburg? With so much | | | | Exhibits describe the Corps' present and former |
| history to offer, the answer might just surprise you. | | | | missions as well as its historical evolution. |
| The Civil War Buff | | | | A recent addition to Fort Lee's tourist attractions is the |
| Petersburg National Battlefield incorporates a variety | | | | United States Army Women's Museum. It houses |
| of Civil War sites involved in the nine month siege of | | | | artifacts and archival material honoring the service of |
| Petersburg. One of the Civil War's best known battles | | | | women in all branches and organizations of the U.S. |
| happened here, the Battle of the Crater. Today you | | | | Army. |
| can see both the crater and the mine shaft Union | | | | The Revolutionary War Expert |
| soldiers dug to reach the Confederate line. The crater | | | | Because there was so much military activity in and |
| marks the spot where they lay the explosives and lit | | | | around Petersburg during the Civil War, many people |
| the fuse that caused a massive conflagration and a | | | | don't know that the Virginia militia saw action in |
| furious pitched battle. The fall of Petersburg on April 2, | | | | Petersburg during the Revolutionary War. On April 25, |
| 1865 led directly to the end of the Civil War when | | | | 1781, the British, led by Major General William Phillips, |
| General Robert E. Lee retreated from the city, yielding | | | | launched an attack on a greatly out-numbered Virginia |
| it to Union soldiers. He surrendered his army four days | | | | unit commanded by Major General Frederick von |
| later at Appomattox Courthouse. | | | | Steuben. Although the militia lost the battle, its heroic |
| The Art Lover | | | | stand gave Lafayette an extra day to prepare for a |
| Petersburg's greatest art treasures are the fifteen | | | | British assault on Richmond. Sadly, shortly after the |
| Tiffany windows which adorn Old Blandford Church. | | | | engagement Major General Phillips contracted a |
| Commissioned by the Ladies' Memorial Association of | | | | sudden illness and died a few days later. He was |
| Petersburg to honor the Confederate soldiers buried | | | | buried secretly in Blandford Cemetery. The |
| nearby, Louis Comfort Tiffany and members of his | | | | whereabouts of his grave is still unknown. |
| studio designed and installed the windows from1901 to | | | | The Shopper |
| 1912. The thirteen Confederate states and several | | | | A stroll through Old Towne can be a shopper's delight. |
| border states each sponsored a memorial window. | | | | In the last decade, numerous specialty shops and |
| The Ladies' Memorial Association commissioned an | | | | antique stores have opened in downtown Petersburg, |
| additional window while Mr. Tiffany himself donated the | | | | stores with names like Purple Passion, Second Hand |
| fifteenth window, the resplendent "Cross of Jewels". | | | | Rose, River's Edge Gifts and Antiques, Grateful Soles, |
| Also worth a visit are two museums, Centre Hill | | | | and Chic Cheap Unique. Tired? Relax as you browse |
| Museum, with its display of nineteenth century | | | | through Minerva's Books on Bartow Alley. Take a |
| decorative arts and the Siege Museum, which is | | | | break for lunch at Longstreet's Delicatessen or enjoy a |
| housed in the ca. 1839 Exchange Building and | | | | specialty coffee at Java Mio which presents live |
| showcases artifacts documenting the ten month siege | | | | entertainment on Friday nights. If you're in Petersburg |
| of Petersburg. | | | | for the monthly Friday with the Arts, eat dinner at the |
| The Preservationist | | | | "British" pub, Brickhouse Run, enjoy South American |
| For decades, admirers of historic houses and old | | | | fare at Andrade's or eat at pizza at Maria's on Old |
| commercial buildings have come to Petersburg seeking | | | | Street. |
| eighteenth and nineteenth century properties to buy | | | | There's something for everyone in Petersburg. Come |
| and restore. Many of the buildings are ante-bellum. | | | | visit! |
| Others date from the latter part of the nineteenth | | | | |