American Civil War Museum- Historic Tredegar

A gem, a must see! The area is simply beautiful with much to see and to experience! A well curated history museum with an educational mission that’s organized and arranged chronologically. The exhibits are historically accurate, and cultivated a deeper understanding of social and economic struggles and successes. We arrived late into the area and thought we’d have to miss out but discovered that had a special event that evening. “Wine Down Wednesday” entry, free beverage of choice, w bar, free appetizers, and a wonderful group of musicians completing the thoughtful aesthetics and the overall sensory experience. The museum also provides a complementary Audi tour which I highly recommend to add more depth and richness to exhibits. The event was akin to a Charity Event where I would have expected to pay for to attend. This after hours, small group experience was the same cost as their regular admission and parking was free. I highly recommend you to 1) add this museum to your “must see” list 2)follow them on social media and look for future events 3) If a scavenger hunt is offered, do it, if you don’t want the opportunity to win the gift bag, you will learn a some fun facts 4) check nearby concert calendar to plan for parking 5) If I was local I would explore their membership options. They offer benefits including free admission, discounts on events, and more. I would attend every event! Great job! What a wonderful, memorable and educational experience!

After merging with the Museum of the Confederacy I thought there would be more artifacts on display. Kinda disappointed in the presentation. They tell you to start upstairs but, not much to see on the second floor, all the main artifacts are on the main floor. Figured it would take a couple hours to go through, took 30 minutes. It would be nice if they told more about the building itself and its history. I can say, been there, done that.

A great place to learn about American history. The staff at the museum were very friendly and shared a lot of fascinating stories, including the history of the building itself. If you’re visiting Richmond, this is definitely a must-see. If you’re driving, you get three hours of free parking while visiting the museum.

While the artifacts and replicated firearms at the entrance are interesting, the rest of the Museum is an enormous disappointment. Early into the walk through even an average Historian can tell this is not a museum at all, but is a political site likely funded by a Woke activist to justify an unnecessary war that killed 650,000 Americans.. The museum goes out of its way to incorrectly present this divisive war and it's cause, and to condemn all of the southland and it's white people; while it whitewashes the horrendous war crimes of Grant and Sherman. While It briefly mentions that civilian occupied Vicksburg was surrounded and bombarded by Grant, for 43 days, it fails to mention that thousands of Southern women, children and elderly civilians were intentionally killed under his command, as was his war policy, as was also done by Sherman and other Union Officers. It briefly mentions the Missouri massacres ordered by Union Command, of southern civilians including women and children, whom wouldn't sign allegiance to the Union. It denies the real taxation issues, and lack of representation that brought the south into the war. This is a "Fake" museum.

Artifact filled museum with many rare items and personal effects primarily from confederate soldiers. Impressive collection of period weapons. Has an introductory movie that gives a good background to the conditions that caused the war. Very well laid out with various media, and presents a generally balanced narrative. Located in an iconic location in an old steel mill and weapons factory.

There is so much history packed into this great old building. There are two stories, with elevators, and either floors have incredible displays. They have incorporated some testimonials as well as some short films throughout the museum. It's a lot of reading so young children may have a hard time staying engaged.

Went as a chaperone on my daughters field trip and enjoyed all the exhibits and the activities they did for the children. It was rainy and they found other activities inside so we didn't have to be out walking in the rain. All the kids seemed to enjoy it, and it was very informative. I've lived in the area my whole 40 years and this was my first time going, had I known how interesting it was I would have come sooner! Thanks for having us!

This museum could be a five minute walk through or you could take a couple hours to read all the details and view the items throughout. I love that about it. Beautifully done through the building with the colors and organization- love the digital aspects added in. I would definitely go back.

For a small museum, very impressive collections of artifacts, particularly those of key Confederate leaders. Interesting architectural blend of Tredegar remains and a modern structure blended into the space.

Tredegar Iron Works (Richmond, VA) Sooo much history here. My jaw was dragging the floor the whole time cause of what artifacts are here. Absolutely loved! In May 1837, Francis Deane Jr. and the Virginia Foundry Company opened a small forge and rolling mill along the Kanawha Canal. The site was named 'Tredegar' in honor of engineer Rhys Davies and his men who emigrated from Tredegar Mills, Wales, to construct the facilities. In the same month of the company's founding, the U.S. experienced a devastating economic crisis: the Panic of 1837. The turmoil continued in 1838 when Davies was stabbed to death by a fellow worker on site. In 1841, Tredegar hired Joseph Reid Anderson (West Point graduate and assistant state engineer of Virginia) as a purchasing agent for the company. Anderson hired immigrants from Germany and Ireland as well as freed and enslaved blacks. Slaves were taught valuable ironworking skill sets and placed in positions equal to white workers. Freed blacks even earned the same wages as whites. In 1847, a group of employees organized a strike in protest of this. Anderson dismissed all those who partook in the strike. He hired new workers and placed African American in even more high-level positions. By 1860, Tredegar (then called JR Anderson & Company) employed a workforce of 2,500 and was the primary iron-manufacturing center of the South. Anderson was a secessionist and exclusively sold his products to southern states following South Carolina's break from the Union. In early 1861, a Gun Foundry was constructed in the Tredegar complex to meet the needs of the emerging Confederate Army and Navy. In fact, it was a Tredegar cannon that fired the opening shot at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. In May 1861, the Confederate capitol moved from Montgomery, Alabama, to Richmond, Virginia. Confederate leaders made this decision based on Richmond's industrial might, augmented by Tredegar's iron production. Tredegar casted over 1,100 cannons and supplied nearly half of the artillery used by the Confederate Army. On April 3, 1865, Richmond burned. With the Union Army closing in, Confederate defenders set fires around Richmond's Warehouse District; however, the flames became rampant and spread through much of downtown Richmond. The destruction was catastrophic and is known today as the Evacuation Burning. Miraculously, Tredegar survived the blaze thanks to Anderson's Tredegar Brigade--a group of 350 workers who guarded the building from looting and demolition.

My friend and I enjoyed our visit here, which included two tours. The first tour explained the dynamics that led to the Civil War, in an extremely nuanced and fair way. The second explained the significance of the Tredegar Ironworks, with which I was previously unfamiliar. The exhibits were decent, but we didn't have time to carefully read everything. Very informative overall, and worthy of a visit.

Nice museum. A little pricey for a small place with really exhibits. The staff is pleasant. The introductory movie was pretty cool. It's in a cool area for walking. I'm not sure I'd go again, but I don't recommend against going.

We came here to check out the American civil War museum. We drove here which the surrounding area wasn't nice. We went to museum to gain knowledge. When we walked in, the price was 18 a person. We spent an hour and went through the top and bottom of the museum. Everything was nice and cool. Wasn't the biggest museum. I know there is a National civil war museum in PA so I'll check that one out next. Overall it was a good

Wow, this is a pretty cool museum! Visually it is a reconstructed artillery warehouse that is in decay, but captured in time by the new surrounding structures. The displays are very visual and capture the attention. There is a nice movie with 2 overlapping screens for dramatic effect. There is more of a topical presentation than a traditional comprehensive timeline/history museum which avoids the stale boredom of most war museums. You can get a ticket to the Confederacy White House in conjunction (as you can to Appomattox but that is quite a drive away). Regarding the site: "Cannons made at Tredegar fired the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter. The thick armor plating that protected the ironclad CSS Virginia (Merrimack) during its fight with the Monitor was rolled at Tredegar. More than half of the cannon used by the Confederate army were cast here."

Although we had to park on 5th Street due to a private event closing the parking lot, the American Civil War Museum was a decent presentation of the struggle and human misery that was the Civil War. If you have seen Ken Burns documentaries about this awful conflict, you probably already know more than this collection can teach you. Still, it is worth an hour or two of your life to see a piece of it first hand. I walked through the exhibits with growing sadness and bathos for the lives lost, families destroyed and communities laid waste. That it was necessary for this country to go through it is harsh commentary on serious aspects of American history to that point. That history seems to cast a shadow on the present day is more than a concern for our future. I suppose that was what the museum founders were hoping for when they built it. Secondarily, the adaptive reuse of the 19th Century iron works into a modern facility is also worth a walkabout. They did an excellent job with the expansive courtyard and glass front entrance. The cannons out front overlooking the James River were in similar positions when Richmond was defended during the war. The ACWM goes out of its way to appear neutral in the never ending debate about this critical moment in American history. They do a good job. For that alone it is a legitimate destination for all Americans.

This was a really cool museum to visit, I really enjoyed the downstairs museum better than the upstairs. I thought it was a little expensive to get in.

This is a National Treasure! Filled with multimedia presentations and actual museum quality showcases. I think everyone should have to go through this once just to remember the facts and not forget the history that shaped this country. I toured it with a family member not from this country and it is amazing the questions she asked that made me re- think a lot of my perceptions. Thought provoking and historical.

The American Civil War Museum was awesome! Located in the Tredegar area and encompassing an old mill, you really come to appreciate the historic architecture and all the history that is contained within this museum. This museum presents you with a comprehensive overview of the reasons and disagreements that led up to the American Civil War, a fantastic overview of all the major battles and events that happened during the Civil War, and finally lessons that we can learn to take into the future. The artifacts contained and displayed here really take you back to a different period, allowing you to really appreciate how far this country has come and how much more there is still to come. This is a highly recommended spot to go to if you are in Richmond! :)

I enjoyed this museum. The remaining building structure of the former space and how it's incorporated with the museum architecture was well done. I expected a heavy pro South Confederacy space but it was well done, well balanced and included a fair amount of recognition and mention of blacks both free and slaves and their part in the war. Worth a visit. $13.00 fee and parking is $3.00 a hour. The museum is located near a water front park that is very lovely. If you can find free parking..... stay the day! This is also near the White House of the confederacy. Ok call me stupid. I live in VA .... Drive on Jefferson Davis Highway, but didn't know the confederacy had their own President..... it was him..... short career....who knew‍

If you like Virginia and the Civil War, this is your place. There is a medium exhibit on the first floor that will teach you everything you need to know about Virginia being the South, and most things that happened in the South. After you get a good sense of ole Virginia, go upstairs to whatever they are showcasing. This is where you can read further information. We really enjoyed our time. Albeit, small, it's packed. Plus, there is a pretty reasonably priced gift shop.

The Civil War Museum recently moved to a new building on Brown Island near the James River. Here's what you should know: 1) There's a parking lot with validated parking from the museum. 2) The museum costs $14 for adults. 3) It's pretty small. The main exhibit is on the main floor and takes about 1.5 hours to go through reading most things. There's a tiny rotating exhibit on the second floor. 4) Where this museum shines is through all the artifacts. They have many items from the actual Civil War.

Two hours well spent learning about the American Civil War or as some might call it, the War of Northern Aggression. Yeah, I'm a Yankee but I live in the South now and I've heard both. So to come here and see the exhibits and watch the films of the bloodiest war in American history was well worth the investment. The museum features lots of personal stories, many pieces of memorabilia and a number of films, videos and audio stories that tell about what happened and what it was like to fight brother upon brother. Well organized, well curated and extremely interesting for me. I'm really glad I was here. [Review 11797 overall, 1579 of 2019.]

From out of state staying in Williamsburg. We drove to Richmond for this museum specifically. Website said open and onsite parking. We drive there and the adjacent parking lot we can see is for the museum, but posted over it is no public parking, for private event only. No where to park nearby, and it's 95 degrees outside. We couldn't tell if the museum was even open to the public that day and weren't going to walk an extended distance in that heat with a toddler in tow to find out. Very disappointed. We ended up visiting the National Park Service sites, and the Confederate White House. Probably the better choice anyways. Great guide at the house.

Well maintained museum. Exhibitions give a good overview but few are interactive. In my opinion representation of the events is not white-washed and fairly balanced. Overall enjoyed 2h I spent here, but wouldn't go for the second time. Gift shop lacks interesting items.

An absolute must for anyone passing through the area. I've been to many a museum and this one is easily one of the best due to its attention to detail and guidance. Located on the James River in an old-ironworks building, the museum is a two-story walkthrough of the chronological events of the Civil War. The rooms dial-in to all the moving pieces (events, legislation) that compose the Civil War. However, the story telling also emphasizes the importance of the decisions, tensions, and emotions of the common people who endured. Overall, a very educational museum that could teach an eight year old, or a graduate student a thing or two.

On our way to Williamsburg, we stopped at the museum to see how it compares to the many civil war museums and battlefields we've visited. The museum was very expensive at $18.00 per adult for a 2 floor museum. We were told most people take an hour to tour the museum. It took us about 2 1/2 hours. We typically read almost everything in the exhibits to better appreciate the topics presented. It was very hard to do this at the museum. Many of the notes on individual items were very low to the ground, which causes you to constantly bounce between shoulder height for the overall explanation and the smaller individual items descriptions. The items on display were numbered on the description, but no items actually has the usual numbers next to them. You had to look at a case drawing to identify which item matched the description. It breaks up the flow of examining and reading about the items. This was a poor design! Regarding the interpretation presented. I got the sense that the curators tried to present a balanced approach, but you could still tell you were in the South. Instead of using the generally accepted standard of referring to battles after the North's body of water method, the exhibits switched between the South's and North's methods (i.e, Battle of Manassas instead of Battle of Bull Run). I was alright that they focused on local and Confederate individuals in the exhibits, since we're in the South. However, the downplaying of Vicksburg and Gettysburg to only a few paragraphs clearly was slanted interpretation. The best exhibits were the temporary ones on the second floor. The one about greenbacks was interesting and visually well done. The second exhibit concerning the Confederacy's desires to expand slavery to the Caribbean, Central and South America was very well done and I wish it has been expanded upon. Also, that exhibited was translated into Spanish allowing for more guests to easily appreciate the exhibits. Overall, the museum was just alright. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone unless they're really into the Civil War and might want to compare it to other museums.

Excellent collection of ACW items, and good representation from multiple perspectives. The gentleman at the front desk was very helpful and polite. Only comment from our group was the question about the KKK garb at the very end of the tour... seems like a strange item to have as a parting view.

I finally got to go to the American Civil War Museum today and I enjoyed it! It's definitely one of Richmond's more prominent museums, though not quite on the level of VMFA. The main exhibit packs a lot of artifacts and information into a modestly sized place, and there's a second level detailing other aspects of the Confederacy. The attached ruins of the Tredegar Ironworks are really cool in and of themselves. Despite being half-destroyed during the Confederate retreat out of Richmond, and then by Hurricane Agnes, there's still quite a bit of brick remaining, showing just how extensive the ironworks were. I learned a lot about the Confederacy and the ironworks themselves and I'm happy with that. My only two quibbles are with the price and the lack of information around the Tredegar Ironworks itself. For $16, I was expecting just a bit more. You learn a lot about the CSA (WITHOUT the museum defending them...you just learn about what they were about), as well as the plight and triumph of the enslaved black people of the south. There is a lot of coverage of the Colored Troop regiments of the US Army and their exploits during the war. But the ruins are on display more or less without context. Overall I think everything was very balanced and there was no historical revisionism. There are several interactive screens where you can learn about the progression of the war itself. I spent a solid 1.5 hours here and probably would have spent 2 had I gotten there earlier. Despite my small quibbles, I was very happy with the ACWM and exploring the ironworks. Pretty cool place!

If you'll note the negative reviews, they mostly follow the same inaccurate revisionist lines: (1) that slavery wasn't really the cause of the Civil War and so stating is just an abolitionist PC partisan (all words taken from actual reviews) perspective; and (2) that we should focus more on battles but not talk about causes. These are both disingenuous historical points - all of the southern declarations of secession specifically cite slavery as the sole or primary cause of secession - and also reviews that ironically blame the museum for making them feel uncomfortable. It's a fine museum. I agree it could talk more about the battles themselves *in addition* to mentioning the causes. But speaking truthfully is the job of any proper museum, and this museum does so. It's also a neat looking building from the outside and easy to navigate inside. If you have time, and aren't easily offended by historical accuracy, I think it's worth a couple of hours.

The American Civil War Museum- Historic Tredegar was my least favorite museum we visited on our trip. It has a lot of good information, but is not very interactive. It is a lot of reading and a few videos. The building the museum is in/attached to is Historic Tredegar and it is listed as a stop on the Richmond National Battlefield Park map as a place of interest. There was no real information about the building or it's significance to the war other than it was a iron works. The visitor center there was closed, so we had trouble figuring out where to get a map to see all the park sites. Only one of the visitor sites was open and made our drive to see the battle sites long and confusing. 1 Share

I spent two hours here learning about Civil War history. I really enjoyed the parts about women, children, African Americans, and indigenous people. I felt that the museum was accurate and not sympathetic to the south, which I appreciated. The location is fantastic and scenic and the building was beautiful. My main complaint is the cost--$16 for an adult for something that takes 2 hours is kind of pricy. I also hated the recordings playing in the background, because the voices on the recording made it hard to read the signs, it was too much at once. It would have been better to have Civil War style music in the background without people speaking as well.

There are 3 different things to see at this complex; the outside grounds which contain remnants of the Tredegar Iron Works, the Richmond Battlefield Center, and this building - the American Civil War Museum. Of this group, this is the only one with a fee. The museum is less about Tredegar and more about the causes of the war. But it takes pains to be impartial and explain the rationales of the North and South, letting the visitor decide the motivations of both sides. It's a very diplomatic approach - and probably the only one that it could possibly use. As a Yankee I'm inclined to think the museum downplays the role of slavery and overplays the "States Rights" issue in an effort to be impartial, but maybe that's just my own viewpoint. It does have the requisite Civil War artifacts, including a (very scary looking) late 19th century KKK uniform (hint - they weren't always colored white). But my favorite was a clearly dented armored plate from the ironclad CSS Virginia. The funniest - saddest? - part of the museum were the post-its where people can write something about the tour, what they learned, and why they thought the war started. My favorite was the kid who wrote "Because I learned stuff". My least favorite messages don't bear repeating here, but suffice to say there are some folks who apparently think the Confederacy had the right to secede. If this museum was located anywhere else, I'd take or leave it. But since it's part of the overall Tredegar complex, it's worth a stop. I got through the museum in about an hour.

They "validated" my parking ticket, told me explicitly I could walk the area afterwards as long as I wanted. When we wanted to leave the validated ticket wasn't accepted at the machine and had to pay $18. Called them they next day and they said its a known issue but won't help me...

The one star is for the proximity to the James River and access to the Capitol Trail. This was the highlight of the day. What a disappointment, spent $20 for one ticket to wander around a small two floor museum to see most exhibits were inactive or to learn nothing new from the active exhibits. What I did discover from a historical perspective is that a lot of people are enamored with a romanticized version of american history. I don't agree with war , murder or slavery so perhaps I'm an anomaly in this town or planet. People treat war like a sporting event or fiction film where they cheer for whoever sheds the most blood unfortunately they don't get to see the casualties because that's what they truly long. This war was literally over the right to traffick , abuse, rape and murder human labor for personal gain or the foundation of capitalism. This place is no different than the other ten civil war sites within five minutes. It's shocking to see so many celebrate war, murder, and the enslavement/torcher of humans for their own gain. There was a small sign explaining the Lost Cause of the Confederacy; the sign should be larger and at the entrance. It's sickening to see museums using this ideology to justify the belief that slavery was just and moral, because the enslaved were happy, even grateful, and it also brought economic prosperity to the owners. What a disgusting world! God bless our souls.

A great place to bring out of town friends! Located right on the river, it offers great views and pretty walks nearby. I suggest making a day out of touring the museum and nearby Belle Isle and Brown's Island. The museum holds such unique and interesting artifacts in such a beautiful and historic building. I especially loved all the old photographs of various places around the city back then. I only wish they had a student discount!

The museum wasn't what I expected. Given the history of the area, I thought there would be more artifacts and more interactive displays that engaged the visitors. It's a lot of reading. I wouldn't recommend this museum for young kids.

Visited during a recent trip to Richmond. Very interesting to have both a National Park and a private organization's exhibit on the same property. Although they of necessity overlapped, they had a sufficiently different emphasis on their coverage to make it very interesting. The Tredegar was the largest ironworks on the Confederate side and to see some of the actual artifacts like the waterwheel and plate press that was used then was awesome. There are entrance fees for both exhibits and a parking fee. Very enjoyable to experience while visiting Richmond. Highly recommend!

This is NOT the superb Museum of the Confederacy (MoC), which recently merged with the American Civil War Museum (ACWM) and is still adjacent to the White House of the Confederacy about a mile away. This museum is puny. Exhibits are poorly lighted. Save your money -- either see the MoC before it moves or wait until their new building is completed. The adjacent US National Park Service Tredegar Iron Works next door is fascinating -- and far more reasonably price card (or free for seasoned citizens).

Very cool place. Very interesting and informative. Also next to the James River with paved walking trails and great views of the river and an occasional train going by this place. This is a great place to go if you are a Civil War buff.

This has awesome historic relics but it has become a "politically correct" museum. They have rewritten history. What a disappointment. Very biased displays. See photo as an example

I'm not a big fan of this museum and kids will be bored stiff here. The one plus to the main exhibit, which is called "in the Cause of Liberty", is that it tells the story of the Civil War from the perspectives of all involved: Union, Confederate, and African-Americans. The artifacts are underwhelming and you have to read all of the display material. The ranger tour at the National Park Services' Visitor Center next door is free, and since they walk you all around the property and explain the entire setting in context, you'll learn a lot more than in this stuffy and overpriced museum. Sometimes you don't get what you pay for!

Should be the National abolitionist museum or the history of slavery museum. If you are true Civil War buff, this is not the place for you. More focus on causes (from their view) than the actual war. You can pick up the political correctness tone they have. I would not recommend and will not be back. Museums jobs are not to take away history or even interpret history. It's purpose is to be a custodian and guardian of ALL history.

Political Correctness run amok! I'm not sure why the old Museum of the Confederacy was closed or why it merged into the Civil War Center to become what it is now, but it was a major disappointment. The exhibits are well done and the facility is a wonderful effort of conservation and city redevelopment, however, they fail to pursue numerous area of this controversial subject. While they do deal with anti-war riots in New York and similar themes of the Confederacy, a lot was left out. Now this isn't because the place is overfilled with material. Nope...I'm estimating that only about 25% of the available floor space is occupied with exhibits. The entry areas are massive and a waste of space. Finally, in the gift shop, there are plenty of replicas of historic Union flags, as there should be, but no Confederate battle flags. That says it all. Don't waste your time here.

Well worth the time, and it gives you a much greater insight into one of the main conflicts that the USA has engaged in. The exhibits are laid out in a circular format, so you can spend as much time as you wish at any of them. The buildings themselves are part of American history. All in all we spent two and a half hours there, and I consider it time well spent.

From the outside this looks to be a promising bit of history. My expectation was that it would tie together the iron mills contributions to the civil war efforts. Once inside though it seems that is not the case. Although there are plenty of articles of memorabilia from that was there is nothing to tie the mill work to its contribution. Just seemingly random articles with a story.

Newly renovated and beautiful. I love the personal stories, the various documentaries and artifacts. The museum shop has nice merchandise. There are three levels, so be prepared to spend some time here.

This was a part of the American War Museum. Self paced to look at artifacts. There is a 2 part video you can watch, but we decided to skip out since we preferred to be out doors.

I really enjoyed this museum! For only $8 (adults) you get free reign of the two stories of awesome exhibits that highlight the pivotal moments of the civil war. I liked the intermingling of hands-on visuals, immersive films and the self-guided nature of the museum. I had a whole lot of fun!

As an avid student of American History and Military History, I have to say that I was profoundly disappointed with this museum and shocked at the incompetence and bias on display here. It is a disgrace that some of the finest and most important civil war artifacts are housed at this museum where they are exhibited with a biased and inaccurate interpretation. I have never in my life visited a more disappointing museum. First, the historical facts presented to support various conclusions are at best wildly inaccurate or at worst shamefully misrepresented to push a preferred narrative. For example, the museum suggests that the Battle of Chancellorsville was a strategic defeat for the South due to the 30,000 casualties incurred. This 30,000 figure might close to the total number of casualties incurred by both armies COMBINED, and the combined casualty total should never be used by a military historian to assess the importance or outcome of a battle. This outrageous interpretation accompanies the exhibition of Lee's personal uniform and equipment, artifacts of incredible world historical value. To have them displayed with such shoddy interpretation is a disgrace. Elsewhere, we are told that the South never lost a battle for want of military equipment, which is, of course, a completely false and misleading statement. The Southern war effort was constantly hampered by lack of army supplies, forage, horses, leather, shoes, rifled muskets, rifled cannon, shrapnel shells and fuses, and railroad stock and cars....not to mention naval force of any substantial power. Even a cursory understanding of the papers of the combatants on the Southern side would make it plain that this conclusion is again either wildly inaccurate or a shameful misrepresentation. It seems to me that the entire thrust of the museum is to explore the horrors of slavery and to portray the conflict as a bitter race war. While discussion of slavery certainly has an important place in American History, for generations we have taken the approach of reconciliation between North and South, while the "narrative" at this museum appears to be seeking to re-divide the nation along regional and racial lines pursuant to the agenda of modern political partisans. I should have saved my $20 dollars when I saw a collection of writings by Ta-Nehisi Coats in the gift store. Clearly this is a place where "re-education" is the goal. It makes me sad to say that I would rather see the artifacts at this museum boxed up and locked away and the entire conflict forgotten then to see the history distorted, these Americans unfairly vilified, and the terrible wounds of this nation torn open again as the museum seeks to do pursuant to the political agenda of those in power over this museum.

The American Civil War Center would be a great place to bring a school group just starting their first unit on the Civil War. It provides a solid overview of the War, its antecedents and outcomes. If you already have a good general understanding of the War the Center probably won't be that interesting to you. I don't know much more than the usual stuff about the Civil Wat and so I expected to learn a lot. I didn't. The exhibits were problematic. The lights reflecting off the cases containing artifacts made it really difficult to see inside the cases. I found myself shading the glass with my hand and squinting a lot to try to reduce the glare enough to view the cases' contents. Also, there were lots of books of small photos mounted at various stations in the museum. The pictures were quite small and in order to get close enough to see them well, I had to stoop down awkwardly. (And I should mention that I'm not a tall person.) I understand the need to mount items so children and handicapped patrons can see them but it might have been better to enlarge the images more so that average adult patrons could view them easily as well. If you're the sort of person who likes to read a lot at a museum, you'll like the AMCC. If, like me, you prefer viewing objects and pictures and doing less reading, you'll be less satisfied.

Very nice exhibit! All you could want to know about the civil war is here! Staff were very friendly and informative. They had special presentations while I was there. Very interesting.

This was very well put together. Being from Richmond, I've been by many times but never really stopped. They had a good mix of information and real artifacts. Wish they had more on the stuff that you see in real life rather than the information boards that look like web pages. Great environment to see the start of the industrial age and the impact on local history.

In comparison to other places visited in Richmond on our recent trip this was a slight let down. However I see the potential for improvement. I would like to have seen more artifacts and original photos. I think it could benefit from more hands on displays especially for the younger kids who might go here. I don't mind paying a fee for a museum when it is worth it. I think in the future maybe it will be better.

A beautiful outdoor setting and nicely presented indoor exhibits. Just being there in the old iron works gives you a feeling of the history involved. The National Park side is a good introduction, but The Civil War side is where things get interesting. I'm a visiting Yankee, and I think their presentation of the causes and aftermath of our civil war is pretty thoughtful and "balanced". No treatment of it will make everyone comfortable, and in fact probably shouldn't. They don't dwell on the abominable, but they also don't sugar coat it. Be prepared to be challenged, but keep an open mind.

In an old foundry building, a must visit for anyone really into the Civil War... right near belle island and browns' island, where you can walk out on a bridge over the river and read about the night Richmond was burned. They did a pretty cool job with the renovation, preserving the soaring ceilings in the main lobby and brickwork of the original building... Even if you don't actually go through the museum (which is pretty cool, it tells the story of the war from three different perspectives) check out the main lobby- they have some cool installation art pieces with historic facts on them, plus a ton of maps and brochures for local history buffs to peruse. And their staff is awesome, very knowledgeable and not pushy. Totally agree with Ginger, don't pay to park here. But they do have a bathroom in the lobby, which my mother said was very nice.

Very disappointing. Very little information about the iron works. 80% of the displays are about slavery. Definitely do not recommend!

Part of the National Park, this was an enjoyable place to visit and relive the history of Richmond.