Monument Avenue — Rich Life in Richmond, Virginia

Monument Avenue is a famous landmark in Richmond, Virginia. It is also one of the largest Confederate monuments in the United States. It is the traditional focal point of Richmond—with the Lee circle being the center of Richmond city, and also a popular tourist destination. "Monument Avenue Historic District" is listed as a National Historic Landmark District. In 2007, the American Planning Association ranked Monument Avenue one of the 10 Great Streets in the country. It was selected for the “historic architecture, urban form, quality residential and religious architecture, diversity of land uses, public art and integration of multiple modes of transportation” (Richmond Times Dispatch, APA).

Monument avenue is a preserved historical avenue with a tree-lined grassy mall in the center dividing the east- and westbound traffic, with five statues memorializing Virginian Confederate participants of the Civil War Robert E. Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, Jefferson Davis, Thomas "Stonewall"Jackson, and Matthew Fontaine Maury. These five statues were erected between 1890 to 1929, with Lee’s one being the first. Most of the buildings alongside the avenue, including many architecturally significant ones, were also built around this era. The sixth statue, Arthur Ashe, a Richmond native and international tennis star, was added in 1996 near the West End section of the avenue.

The Confederate Monuments (Robert E. Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, and Jefferson Davis).

The prominent placements of these Confederate statues has been debated from the very start after the completion of Lee’s one. The debates have infused more broader discussions about how to represent and narrate Richmond’s history — the former Capital of the Confederacy. Alongside with the 127-year-long debate, the importance of Monument Avenue continued to rise, turning the once tobacco fields into today’s famed historical landmark. Several events are held annually, including the locally-famous spring Monument Avenue 10K race, and the "Easter on Parade,” which is also in spring. The blocks has been a flavored, high-end living area for Richmond’s upper class, especially in the Fan section. Monument Avenue has also become well-known for the memorials and the preserved historical buildings, contributing a solid part to Richmond’s tourism industry. In June 2017, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has appointed a 10-member commission to “study ways to add context to these memorials, likely with new historical signage” (Richmond Times Dispatch).

The avenue itself, aside from the statues, has significant beauty on its own. The best season to experience the avenue is Spring and Autumn. In Spring, blooming floras and cherry blossom trees make Monument Avenue a miles-long strip of lively, delightful flowers and new leaves. In autumn, the avenue has clusters of trees dyed in red, amber and yellow, while the grassy malls are covered in thick leaves. The avenue also has various magnificent buildings, including several churches and chapels, the Stuart court building, and the Branch Museum — which is built by John Russell Pope, the architect behind the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.. The avenue’s section between Lombardy Street and Boulevard is paved in stone, which has reduced the speed of traffic and created an enjoyable slow-ride experience. Another great way to experience Monument Avenue is to walk or jog on the grass mall in the center, while cycling is also an option on the sidewalks.