Richmond is full of beautiful historic buildings and cemeteries - but would you know the full context of each location if you walked by it on a stroll around town? Probably not. That's why guided tours of this city are so valuable.  

Our real estate agents have been on almost every tour offered within city limits. Each one has been enlightening in its own way, but there are a few standout options they think are most worth your time and money. Get ready to dive into the past with these historic cemetery and architecture tours happening near our Richmond homes for sale. 

5 Historic Cemetery and Architecture Tours to Enjoy in Richmond 

Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery – Richmond, VA 

412 South Cherry St., Richmond, VA 23220 

Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery is one of the country's oldest formal burial sites and a must-visit for anyone spending time in the city. The Valentine (RVA's regional history museum) offers a Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery tour to help visitors get the most out of the experience.

As you follow your guide through clusters of centuries-old graves, you'll learn about the lives and accomplishments of the people resting below. Some notable figures your guide might discuss include: 

• Former Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler 
• William Smith, a former Confederate general who served twice as Governor of Virginia 
• Hunter McGuire, founder of the Virginia College of Medicine and former president of the American Medical Association 
• Mary-Cooke Branch Munford, an early suffragette, civil rights activist, and educator who fought for women's rights to pursue higher education 
• Douglas Southall Freeman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning political biographer  

The cemetery also features several commemorative statues and displays with interesting stories behind them, including The Iron Dog and the 90-foot Monument to the Confederate Dead. If you see something you'd like to know more about, ask your guide; they know the location like the back of their hand and love helping curious guests explore its mysteries. 

These tours run every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and last about 90 minutes.

Richmond Capitol Grounds Walking Tour - Richmond, VA 

Address: 24 N 8th St., Richmond, VA 23219 

The Richmond Capitol Grounds Walking Tour takes guests across all 12 acres of the state Capitol property. Aside from the Capitol building itself, you'll also see: 

• The Virginia Executive Mansion, the place where every Virginia Governor has lived since 1813 
• The Bell Tower, a tall building with a large bell used for mass communication during the 19th century 
• The Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, a bronze and marble sculpture depicting the 1951 school strike that eventually ended racial segregation in schools 
• Voices from the Garden, a set of statues commemorating women who helped shape Virginia into its present form 
• The Edgar Allen Poe Monument, a bronze statue dedicated to RVA's most famous poet 
• The Native American Monument, a swirling earthwork path that honors the tribes who once lived in the region 

This tour is offered every day, year-round. A professional historian leads each tour, which runs from 10 a.m. to around 12 p.m. 

Richmond Historian Guided Tour - Richmond, VA 

Address: 101 N 9th St., Richmond, VA 23219 

If you like the idea of having a real historian guide but want to see more than just the Capitol grounds, Old Dominion Tours' Richmond Historian Guided Tour might be for you. Walking the streets of downtown Richmond with a knowledgeable historian in tow, you'll get the chance to see the city through a true expert's eyes. Some of the landmarks you can expect to pass include: 

• The Egyptian Building, a stunning example of Egyptian Revival architecture and the oldest medical college building left standing in the South  
• Grant House, a tall brick townhouse built in the Italianate style that was popular in 1850s Virginia 
• Monumental Church, one of the first Greek Revival-style churches built in the country 
• The Second White House of the Confederacy, the executive residence of the President of the United States of the Confederate America during the Civil War 

Tours start at 12 p.m. every Saturday afternoon and end around an hour later.

RVA Historic Trolley Tour - Richmond, VA 

Address: 1500 East Main St., Richmond, VA 23219 

RVA on Wheels' RVA Historic Trolley Tour lets guests see the most iconic sights along the city's trolley line without having to walk miles first. Bundled into an old-fashioned trolley car, you'll enjoy a narrated trip through town to see sights like:

• Libby Hill Park, the place where the city got its name  
• Jackson Ward, a historic locale full of stunning Greek Revival and Italianate architecture designed by some of the first African American architects known to have worked professionally in Virginia 
• Church Hill, a neighborhood with several pre-Civil War buildings still standing as well as the historic St. John's Church 
• Main Street Station, a 125-year-old train station built in the stunning Beaux-Arts architectural style 

Tours last around 2 hours.

St. John's Church Foundation's Graveyard Tours - Richmond, VA 

Address: 2401 East Broad St., Richmond, VA 23223  

If you're up for spending more time at St. John's Church, you can also take one of the St. John's Church Foundation's Graveyard Tours. Follow your guide on a walk through hundreds of gravestones marking the final resting place of notable locals, such as: 

• George Wythe, one of the Founding Fathers and an early abolitionist 
• Elizabeth Arnold Poe, mother of famous Richmond-born writer Edgar Allen Poe 
• Robert Bell, an esteemed Philadelphia publisher who helped bring Thomas Paine's Common Sense to the masses 
• John Page, the 13th governor of Virginia and one of the first Congressmen 

Tours run at least one day each weekend and start around 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., or 1 p.m., depending on the day. Each one lasts 45 minutes to an hour.

Now's Your Chance: Become Part of RVA's Future 

Richmond has grown and changed dramatically since its founding in 1737, but its story is still being written. As a resident, you could be part of that tale. Get in touch today to explore our current lineup of local homes for sale and take your first steps toward that goal.