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For nine and a half months in 1864 and 1865, Petersburg was the focus of the longest siege of the American Civil War, as Union armies cut the railroads that fed Richmond. When the Confederate lines finally broke here in April 1865, the road to Appomattox opened within days. Earthworks, forts and the great mine crater of July 1864 are preserved today in Petersburg National Battlefield.
The city's history runs much deeper. Settled at the falls of the Appomattox River in the 1600s, it grew into a prosperous tobacco and cotton town and was home to one of the largest free Black communities in the South before the war. Old Towne keeps cobbled streets, warehouses and the octagonal Old Market, and fine homes such as Centre Hill and the Palladian villa Battersea are open for tours.
Old Blandford Church, glowing with fifteen Tiffany windows, stands among thousands of soldiers' graves, and the Siege Museum tells how civilians survived the bombardment. Just south of the city, Pamplin Historical Park adds a museum devoted to the life of the common soldier.
A national park preserving the earthworks of the 1864-65 siege, including the Crater, blown by Union miners in July 1864, and a chain of forts along a tour road. Start at the Eastern Front visitor center for exhibits and a map. Allow at least half a day, and drive the loop with the audio tour.
A quiet national cemetery south of the city, part of the battlefield park, where more than 6,000 Union soldiers who died in the Petersburg campaign are buried, most of them unknown. The headstones lie flat, an unusual layout. Visit with the battlefield's western front sites, and keep a respectful pace.
A rare 1768 Palladian-style villa on the west side of the city, built for John Banister, a Revolutionary-era statesman who later became Petersburg's first mayor. A local foundation is restoring the house and grounds and opens them for tours and events. Check the schedule ahead, as opening days are limited.
An 1850s brick railroad station in Old Towne that served the South Side Railroad, the last supply line into the city that the Union fought for months to cut, ending the siege. It is one of the older surviving depots in Virginia. Walk past it on an Old Towne loop and read the historical markers outside.
A brick parish church from the 1730s that was restored after the Civil War as a Confederate memorial, with fifteen stained-glass windows made by Louis Comfort Tiffany's studio. The surrounding Blandford Cemetery holds some 30,000 soldiers' graves. Guided tours run most days; go when the sun lights the glass.
The City Market building of 1879, an octagonal brick market hall with a wide wraparound roof, stands at the center of Old Towne on the site of earlier markets. Farmers markets and events take place here in season. Explore the surrounding blocks of restaurants and shops after a visit.
Set in the columned 1839 Exchange Building in Old Towne, this city museum tells the story of Petersburg's residents during the siege, from food shortages to shelling, with artifacts, personal accounts and a short film. It complements the battlefield nicely. Buy a combination ticket with Blandford Church and Centre Hill.
An 1823 Federal-style mansion later remodeled in Greek Revival and Colonial Revival styles, furnished to show how one prominent Petersburg family lived over a century. The landscaped grounds once stretched down toward the river. Guided tours cover the house, and the period rooms change with the seasons.
A large history park just south of Petersburg with the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, original earthworks where the Union broke through in April 1865, and restored plantation buildings. Interactive exhibits let you follow one soldier's story. Plan most of a day and wear walking shoes for the trails.
The historic riverside district along Sycamore, Bank and Old streets, with restored warehouses, antique shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries. Brick sidewalks and nineteenth century facades make it a pleasant walk between museums. Visit on a Friday evening, when restaurants and galleries are at their liveliest.
A growing network of trails along the Appomattox River between Petersburg, Colonial Heights and nearby counties, with wooded paths, rocky rapids and fishing spots close to downtown. It is a relaxing contrast to the battlefields. Look for trailheads near Old Towne and bring water and bug spray in summer.
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