The National Park Service plans to enhance interpretation of Civil War history along the James River in Virginia/NPS file
The National Park Service at Richmond National Battlefield Park in Virginia is working to expand its interpretation of Civil War history along the James River.
Park staff and volunteers have historically provided visitor services at the historic Tredegar Iron Works. The Park Service currently occupies a small, leased space at the site of the Tredegar Iron Works near the entrance to the American Civil War Museum. With the lease set to expire this year, park staff are looking forward to a new chapter that will involve more interaction with the public through programs, events, and partnerships along the riverfront and out at park sites.
Beginning this summer, the Park Service will focus on collaboration with partners and providing opportunities for visitors and the community to engage with park staff along the riverfront. This change will involve shifting the visitor contact station operations at Tredegar to allowing staff the ability to expand programming with partners, engage in more riverfront events, while maintaining a more visible presence along the riverfront.
The existing Park Service Tredegar Visitor Contact Station will close on July 5 and Richmond National Battlefield Park staff will begin in early August presenting programs in partnership with riverfront partners through formal programs with the American Civil War Museum and working collaboratively with James River Parks on developing interpretive media for Belle Isle Prisoner of War camp. Visitor services and programming will continue at numerous sites throughout Richmond National Battlefield Park.
“This shift will provide opportunities to work more closely with the American Civil War Museum, James River Parks, and other visitor attractions to enhance the visitor experience along the riverfront and throughout park sites,” said Scott Teodorski, superintendent of Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site. “We are grateful to all of our partners and to the community for working with us to connect visitors to the amazing stories that are part of Richmond area history.“
