Belle Isle – The Peaceful Center of Richmond

It isn’t often that once can find the peace and quiet of the outdoors in the middle of a bustling city.  Like so many other wonders that can be found within the boundaries of the City of Richmond, Belle Isle provides a welcome change of pace from what one might expect to be nestled in the center of an ever-growing metropolis.  This island, located in the middle of the James River in the heart of the city, offers its own surprises and opportunities for enjoyment and discovery.

Like the surrounding city, Belle Isle finds its roots steeped in Civil War history.  The island served as the site of a prison camp for Union soldiers during the war, many of which were capture soldiers from the 2^nd Tennessee Infantry, taken during the Battle of Rogersville in November of 1863. The Battle of Walkerton (which took place March 2, 1864) proved to be a failed attempt to rescue the starving men. Even today, remains of the buildings used in the prison camp can be found scattered across the island.  Ruins of an armory and an iron factory still stand against the elements as a testament to the harsh history of the place.

The tragic history seems a distant memory, however, when one traverses the paths and trails of the island.  Modern amenities such as picnic shelters, rest areas, learning centers and even a tricky rope bridge provide visitors with the opportunity to enjoy the surrounding nature comfortably and safely. So when one sits at the top of the quiet island, overlooking the James River or Hollywood Cemetery, it is easy to forget that over the other shoulder sits an entire city full of people.  Until they trip over you with their dogs and their beer coolers, that is…

photos borrowed from Watermarked Photography’s Flickr Page

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General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue

Behold a photograph of the General Robert E. Lee statue, a hallmark of Monument Avenue. Lee, famous for his superlative strategy and willingness to win in the Seven Days Battle and the Battle of Chancellorsville, is the only person in United States history to be offered the command of two opposing armies. In 1862, he led the Army of Northern Virginia through many heated battles including the Battle of Gettysburg. He eventually surrendered at Appomatox Court House on April 9, 1865, but not before the opposing army learned to respect and in many cases deeply revere his resolve.

The Lee monument debuted on May 29, 1890 at the intersection of Monument and Allen, and it was the first statue to line the storied avenue. The statue faces south, which acts as a navigation guide to drivers if they’re ever driving down the monument and need to find their sense of direction. Lee’s statue is an “equestrian” monument; that is to say that it rises high above the street as he holds the reigns to the head of his bowing and humbled horse.

Lee held the horses he rode on to very high standards, and he would not tolerate anything less than perfection. He had many favorite horses, and any horse which was unable to “keep up with Lee” was quickly handed off to another soldier.

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