American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar

The American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar occupies the site of Richmond's historic Tredegar Iron Works, an 8.3-acre campus along the James River in downtown Richmond. The original iron forge and rolling mill were established in 1837, and cannons made at Tredegar fired the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter; during the war, the ironworks produced more than half of Confederate artillery and armor plating for ironclad ships. Two floors of exhibits trace the causes, course, and consequences of the Civil War, including the core exhibit "A People's Contest: Struggles for Nation and Freedom in Civil War America," the "Beyond Valor" exhibit on United States Colored Troops, and "Richmonders at War." Robins Theater screens an original Civil War film, and the museum offers daily guided history tours, musket firing demonstrations, and tours for student and adult groups. The museum is VisitAble Advocate Certified for accessibility and includes an on-site gift shop, with parking available nearby.