The Carillon in Byrd Park, Richmond, VA

Standing high within the beauty of Byrd Park in Richmond’s West End, visible from various driveways of the city, is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s first memorial to Virginians who served in World War I: The Carillon. An illustrious landmark, this campinale is a beloved gathering area for local residents and visitors. In 1924, several years after the end …

The Robert E. Lee Monument – The First Monument of Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA

The first monument erected on Richmond’s Monument Avenue was the Robert E. Lee Monument. Located in Lee Circle (within the intersection now known as Allen Avenue and Monument Avenue), the statue, commemorating the South’s Lost Cause, was unveiled on May 29, 1890 to much fanfare and controversy. The Lee Monument has been a vital focal …

The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site in Richmond, Virginia

The home of Maggie L. Walker, formally known as The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, is located at 110 ½ Leigh Street in Richmond’s Jackson Ward. It has been a part of the National Park Service since 1978 and opened as a public museum in 1985. Preservation of her home as a national landmark presents an esteemed …

The Serenity of Monumental Church, Richmond, Virginia

  During a performance on the night after Christmas, 1811, fire destroyed the Richmond Theatre, killed many citizens, and left this city in mourning. Those who were left dazed by the sudden horrors they'd witnessed and survived acknowledged the heroic efforts of a local slave, Gilbert Hunt. Standing outside of a window under flames and …

The Aluminum Statue of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson in Richmond, Virginia

Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878-1949), believed by many to be the best tap dancer of all time, hailed from Richmond's Jackson Ward. Also known as Shirley Temple's dancing partner in such movies as The Little Colonel (1935) and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938), Mr. Robinson left a legacy that extends beyond the cameras of Hollywood. In his hometown, his memory is …

What Examiner.com Did for Me

By the time Examiner.com sent their email on July 1, 2016 to the company's "Examiners" to announce they were shutting down "on or about" July 10, 2016, I had already drifted away quite a bit from my workload as the Richmond Landmarks and Historic Districts Examiner. That stint was a natural choice for me, but …

Filling in the Blanks – Research for my historical novel

Recently, I finally made it to the Library of Virginia to fill in some of the blanks left in my novel. It sounds like a trek across state lines, but for me, it wasn't. It's in downtown Richmond, about a fifteen to twenty minute drive from home. I had to plan the time and the days …