Petersburg’s history spans the Civil War siege and the experiences and achievements of Black communities in Virginia. The city also offers historic neighborhoods, sites along the Appomattox River and green spaces. You can therefore focus your stay on different chapters of the city’s history, its architecture or outdoor activities.
The history of the siege and African American heritage
Petersburg National Battlefield preserves the sites of the 292-day siege of Petersburg. The Blandford Church Museum offers another perspective: a guided tour covers the building’s history as an 18th-century Anglican church and its use as a field hospital during the siege. The decorative stained-glass windows were designed and installed in their entirety under the direction of Louis Comfort Tiffany of New York.
The history of Black communities is also present at various sites. During segregation, People’s Memorial Cemetery was Petersburg’s largest African American cemetery. People’s Cemetery preserves evidence of funeral and trade businesses owned and operated by Black people. First Baptist Church of Petersburg, originally called First African Baptist Church, is considered the oldest continuously operating Black church in Virginia. In the 1950s and 1960s, it became a center for community organizing, civil rights marches and voter registration activities.
Pocahontas Island is actually a peninsula, originally laid out in 1749. In the 19th century, it developed into a Freedom Colony and is considered the first settlement in Virginia inhabited predominantly by free Black people. Its history thus adds to the themes also visible at Petersburg’s churches and cemeteries.
Historic architecture and neighborhoods
Petersburg’s architecture spans several centuries. The Petersburg Courthouse Historic District centers on an 1840 courthouse that defines the downtown skyline. Today’s city hall is the former Petersburg Customs House, built from 1856 to 1859 in the Renaissance Revival style. Christ and Grace Episcopal Church is locally significant for its Gothic Revival architecture and has remained largely unchanged since it was built.
The Walnut Hill Historic District is predominantly made up of homes from the 1910s and 1920s, characterized by the Colonial Revival and Craftsman styles. Historic Old Towne has a different character: walkable streets pass restaurants, breweries, cafés, galleries and other shops in restored 18th- and 19th-century buildings. Those interested in older buildings can also visit the Farmers Bank of Petersburg. Built in 1817, it is considered one of the oldest bank buildings in the United States. A tour includes the original vault room and vault, a printing press, teller windows and other artifacts.
Other architectural highlights include Centre Hill Mansion, built in 1823 as an example of the Federal style, and Battersea, a colonial townhouse built in 1768 in the Neo-Palladian style. The basement galleries of the Centre Hill Museum feature exhibits on Petersburg’s history, including memorabilia, photographs from the Centre Hill archives and furnishings from First Baptist Church.
Green spaces and outdoor activities
There are various ways to spend time outdoors during your stay. Historic Poplar Lawn Park is a four-block green space with open lawns, mature trees and walking paths. Legends Park covers 330 acres and also includes natural, undeveloped terrain. The two parks offer distinct experiences: landscaped paths and open spaces in one, undeveloped terrain in the other.
Sections of the Lower Appomattox River Trail run through Petersburg. The Appomattox River and its trail are suitable for birdwatching. Pocahontas Island also has a natural launch site for canoes and kayaks. For another activity, Dogwood Trace is a public 18-hole championship golf course with a driving range and pro shop.
Art, events and getting around
The Petersburg Area Art League displays works by local artists in three galleries with rotating exhibitions and hosts a summer concert series every year. Historic Old Towne is also home to Buttery Baking House, which serves sweet and savory pastries. South Side Depot, Virginia’s oldest surviving railway station, serves as Petersburg’s visitor center.
Recurring events may also influence your choice of travel dates: Centre Hill Museum hosts a ghost watch every year on January 24. Battersea hosts “The Battle of Petersburg Rev War Re-enactment” every April and the “BBQ, Oysters, and Battersea Festival” every November. Check the specific event dates for your travel period.
Discover more destinations: Petersburg, Petersburg, Scott County, Fauquier County, Harrisonburg, Buchanan County, Isle Of Wight County, Richmond City.
For the broader travel overview: Virginia.
