The impact of the Civil War on civilians changed as the war became even more grueling in its final year. Join Ranger Ashley Luskey in this final installment of the park’s Saturday Ranger Series as she explores these impacts on two very different segments of the civilian population in and around Richmond, including their responses and adaptations to the war, and how civilians in turn shaped the war effort itself, on a personal and a political scale.
For both programs, please wear comfortable shoes as they will involve a moderate amount of walking — and don’t forget your water!
August 2
Harlots and Hooligans: The Sordid Underworld of a City at War
10:00 a.m.
Every city block in Richmond has a story to tell, and not all are particularly wholesome. Wartime conditions amplified the problems of crime and vice as Richmond’s population increased dramatically. This tour will explore the Civil War’s darker impacts on the city of Richmond, through some of the most historically sordid neighborhoods of the capital.
The tour will begin at 7th and Cary Streets.
August 2
A Family Caught in the Crossfire:
The Sheltons and the Battle of Totopotomoy Creek
2:00 p.m.
This 90 minute tour will explore the story of the Shelton household as the armies arrived on their doorstep and their home became a military outpost and target during three days of battle along Totopotomoy Creek in late May 1864.
Rural Plains/Totopotomoy Creek Battlefield, 7273 Studley Rd, Mechanicsville 23116
