The Valentine

The Valentine The Valentine collects, preserves and interprets Richmond Stories. Admission includes 2 hours of parking and access to all exhibition galleries.
(365)

The Valentine has been collecting, preserving and interpreting Richmond’s 400-year history for over a century. Located in the heart of historic downtown, the Valentine is a place for residents and tourists to discover the diverse stories that tell the broader history of this important region. A comprehensive program of exhibitions, tours, special events, research opportunities, school programs and

other public programs engage the broadest audience in an ongoing dialogue about the significance and relevance of the city's history.

This Sunday, June 28th, climb aboard and join us for Dissent! A Revolutionary Richmond Bus Tour!Before the Fourth, take ...
06/24/2026

This Sunday, June 28th, climb aboard and join us for Dissent! A Revolutionary Richmond Bus Tour!

Before the Fourth, take a journey through some of the untold stories of the Revolution in Richmond. Drawing from new research in the Valentine’s exhibit “Dissent! Liberty & Loyalty in Early Richmond”, learn about the Tories, free African Americans, and enslaved people who pursued their own independence during the Revolutionary era and beyond. Plus, explore how the Revolutionary War shaped the trajectory of the City of Richmond — transforming it from a small town to a bustling city at the center of state and national politics. Your bus tour ticket includes free admission to the “Dissent!” exhibit before or after the tour.

Secure your seat today: https://thevalentine.org/event/dissent-a-revolutionary-richmond-bus-tour/

First image credit: Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.58.146.101/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

06/22/2026

The Oasis: A High Noon Summer Concert Series returns to the Valentine Garden in July! ☀️🎶🌴

That's right, every Thursday in July you can enjoy a diverse lineup of music in our picturesque garden from 12 - 1 p.m.

Full Schedule:
July 2 – James “Saxmo” Gates Quartet | Straight Ahead Jazz
July 9 – JoVia Armstrong Quartet | Afrofuture Jazz
July 16 – Resona Trio | Classical / Pop Strings
July 23 – Paul y Paulo of Los Hermanos Alacranes | Cinematic Rock with a Spanish Soul
July 30 – The Funk Masters | Funk

This series is free and open to the public! Simply bing your lunch and enjoy a reprieve from daily life in this Downtown Oasis.

This series is curated and hosted by Nickey McMullen.

Happy Father's Day! In 2003, the "Abraham Lincoln and His Son Tad" statue was unveiled at the National Park Service Tred...
06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day! In 2003, the "Abraham Lincoln and His Son Tad" statue was unveiled at the National Park Service Tredegar Visitor Center in Richmond, Virginia. Lincoln biographer Ronald C. White Jr. sits next to the statue in this image. The statue commemorated the April 1865 visit of President Lincoln and 12-year-old Tad to Richmond after the retreat of Confederates from the city and take over by Union troops. In 2023 this statue of the father-son duo was relocated to the terrace of the Valentine Museum, where they still reside today.

Lincoln and Tad Statue Photograph Collection. V.2023.25.11/PHC0160. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

One meaningful gift from you, one giant leap towards sustaining our mission!Make your gift to the Valentine’s 2025-2026 ...
06/18/2026

One meaningful gift from you, one giant leap towards sustaining our mission!

Make your gift to the Valentine’s 2025-2026 Annual Giving Fund by June 30 and help us eclipse our fundraising needs.

We’d be over the moon to have your support!

Visit thevalentine.org/give to donate today.

Image Credit: Mrs. Otto Williams, Jr. & Mrs. Langhorne Gibson with prop for the Valentine Junior Center exhibit “Moon Odyssey”. September 21, 1970, Photo by P.A. Gormus, Jr. L.69.41.02/PHC0076. The Richmond Times Dispatch Photograph Collection, The Valentine

This portrait of James Fayette was painted in 1824 by Irish-American artist John Blennerhassett Martin. James Fayette wa...
06/16/2026

This portrait of James Fayette was painted in 1824 by Irish-American artist John Blennerhassett Martin. James Fayette was born into slavery around 1748 in New Kent County and served the Patriot cause during the Revolutionary War. As a spy to the Marquis de Lafayette at Yorktown, James infiltrated the camp of Lord Cornwallis and smuggled out information about the British forces.

Although the Americans won their freedom from the British, James remained enslaved by his owner, William Armistead, until 1787 after his second petition to the General Assembly for his freedom. After acquiring his freedom, James adopted the last name “Fayette,” likely honoring his relationship to the Marquis de Lafayette.

To learn more about James and other historic Black Richmonders, join us on Thursday from 6:00 to 6:30 for our free Black History Short Story Tour! More details are available here: https://thevalentine.org/event/black-history-short-story-tour/

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Richmond SailFest is happening now! Join us all weekend (June 12-14) for this FREE community festival presented by and ...
06/12/2026

Richmond SailFest is happening now! Join us all weekend (June 12-14) for this FREE community festival presented by and . This Sail Virginia 2026 Affiliate Harbor commemorates America's 250th and features tall ships, live music and performances, historical re-enactors, art & history exhibitions, an epic fireworks show over the James River, and much more at Dock Street Park & Intermediate Terminal in Richmond.

Come find the Valentine under the partner tent and grab a your very own Dissent! button.

Full schedule, FAQ, and more at VirginiaHistory.org/SailFest

We were deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Beth Marschak last week. Beth served as a tour guide at the Va...
06/09/2026

We were deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Beth Marschak last week. Beth served as a tour guide at the Valentine for 15 years. Even after stepping away from her regular role in 2020, she remained a cherished member of the Valentine community, generously returning as a guest guide for special tours. Beth was a friend and mentor to many fellow tour guides, and will be dearly missed.

Beth played a pivotal role in expanding how we share Richmond’s LGBTQ+ history. She researched and wrote the original LGBTQ+ History of Carytown tour, a program that continues to be offered today. Beth also led several Valentine bus tours based on her 2008 book “Lesbian and Gay Richmond” – an invaluable resource documenting Richmond’s q***r history.

We are incredibly grateful for her many contributions to the Richmond community.

Are you a walking tour super-fan? With an Annual Tour Pass, enjoy FREE admission to ALL of the Valentine’s public walkin...
06/08/2026

Are you a walking tour super-fan? With an Annual Tour Pass, enjoy FREE admission to ALL of the Valentine’s public walking tours, plus one free bus tour ticket! A Tour Pass is just $75 for non-members and $50 for Valentine members. With over 100 walking tours to choose from this year, save money while learning about the rich history of our city. Make the most of our upcoming tours and get your Annual Tour pass today: https://thevalentine.org/explore/tours/richmond-city-tours/annual-tour-pass/

06/08/2026

What connects Maggie Walker and our tour guide Monica Bagby’s first job? Find out in this episode where Monica shares a story for her favorite corner in Richmond!

Want to learn more from Monica? Join our Pay-What-You-Will Murals of Jackson Ward tour next week, June 19 at 10 a.m., to explore the history of one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

Learn more at the link in our bio!

Do you recognize the miniature Richmond landmarks in these photos?"Building a City: Richmond's Landmarks" is officially ...
06/05/2026

Do you recognize the miniature Richmond landmarks in these photos?

"Building a City: Richmond's Landmarks" is officially open! We invite you to come explore the hard work of nearly 500 Richmond region students and teachers this weekend. Enjoy free admission on Sunday, June 7 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Learn more at: thevalentine.org/explore/exhibitions/building-a-city-richmonds-landmarks/

Address

1015 E Clay Street
Richmond, VA
23219

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18046490711

Website

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