Civil War and Emancipation Day means free museum admissions!

Rediscover the past this Saturday as the city celebrates Civil War and Emancipation Day.

April 5, 2013; 7:24 AM • by Nathan Cushing

Over 25 local museums, sites, and walking tours will be free this Saturday to celebrate Civil War and Emancipation Day.

Connecting the day’s activities is free shuttle transportation (PDF) from 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM. Transportation begins at the American Civil War Center and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, with drop-offs at GRTC bus stops closest to historical sites (follow shuttle locations online).

Museums offering free admission that day:

In addition to free museum admission, there’ll be many onsite walking tours and programs (PDF) across the city, among them:

Lincoln Walk Tour • the path President Lincoln took during an 1865 visit to Richmond (Main Street Station • 1:30 PM)
Guided Tour of the Richmond Slave Trail (Ancarrow’s Landing • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
Richmond Bread Riot of April 1863 • where thousands of Richmonders protested food shortages and supplies (Virginia State Capitol • 3:00 PM)
Historic Jackson War Walking Tour • highlighting the development of businesses, churches, and cultural institutions in the aftermath of the Civil War (Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site • hourly tours begin at 11:00 AM and end at 3:00 PM)
The Secrets of Mary Bowser • a free black woman who spied on the Confederacy, recounted by author Lois Leveen (Main Street Station • 2:00 PM)

Civil War & Emancipation Day is Saturday, April 6th from 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM.