纪念大道（Monument Avenue）是里士满的一个著名地标式道路。这条道路同时也是美国最大的邦联军（美国内战期间的南方政府军）纪念场地之一。纪念大道上李将军（Robert E. Lee）雕像所在的环岛是默认的里士满市区中心点。纪念大道是里士满的一个旅游热点。“纪念大道历史区域”在美国国家级历史性地标区域的名单之中。在2007年，美国城市规划委员会（American Planning Association，简称APA）将里士满的纪念大道列为美国最美的十大街道之一。APA将入选的原因归结为“历史性的建筑风格，城市结构，高质量的居住及宗教建筑，多样化的土地使用，公共艺术，以及多种交通方式的融合。” （来源：Richmond Times Dispatch, APA）

纪念大道是一条保护良好的历史性道路。道路中间有一条延续全路段的宽阔隔离带，划分开东西向的车流。隔离带上面有可供人行走的草地以及大量的树木。大道上有五座美国内战期间来自弗吉尼亚的邦联军领导人的雕像，包括罗伯特·E·李（Robert E. Lee）将军，J.E.B. Stuart将军，南方邦联的总统杰弗逊·戴维斯（Jefferson Davis），汤姆斯·“石墙”·杰克逊（Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson）将军，以及海军将领Matthew Fontaine Maury。这五座雕像在1890年到1925年间被树立，其中首先被树立的是李将军的雕像。纪念大道上的大部分建筑，包括一些具有建筑学价值的个体，均在这一时期内一并落成。第六座雕像，Arthur Ashe，一位来自于里士满本地的国际网球明星，在1996年树立，坐落在纪念大道接近West End的一端。

纪念大道上的南方邦联军将领雕像（罗伯特·E·李，J.E.B. Stuart，以及杰弗逊·戴维斯）

从1890年纪念大道成立开始，这种在市区内显著地放置在内战期间代表支持奴隶制一方的将领的做法，就引起了不少的争议。该争议最终点燃了一个更广泛的讨论话题：如何展示和陈述里士满的历史。这座城市作为美国内战期间南方邦联军的首都，具有一段独特而且有争议的过去。和这一长达127年的争议一并发展的，是纪念大道在里士满城市里的地位。大道以及周边区域的长足发展让一度的市郊烟草种植园变成了如今的著名历史地标。纪念大道是数个本地年度活动的举办地，包括春季的“两英里长跑／徒步”活动，以及同样在春季的复活节游行。纪念大道在里士满市区内的部分还是一个设计精美的高端住宅区。同时，由于该地的雕像和纪念碑的名气，纪念大道还为里士满的旅游业贡献了显著的客源。在2017年6月，里士满市长Levar Stoney指派了一个新的10人委员会，以“调研恰当的方式来为这些雕像加入历史背景教育，并在同时修建新的历史纪念设施”。（来源：Richmond Times Dispatch）

纪念大道本身，除去这些历史雕像，也自带有优美怡人的风景。参观大道的最佳季节为春季和秋季。在春季，各种植物和樱花树争先绽放，将纪念大道变成了一条长达数英里的充满生机的鲜花绿道。在秋季，大道上众多的树木纷纷被染成红黄和琥珀色，地表上也会覆盖上厚厚的一层落叶。大道上还有一些拥有建筑学价值的楼房个体，包括了几座教堂，Stuart广场大楼，以及Branch博物馆—该博物馆是设计了华盛顿国家美术馆的建筑师John Russell Pope的早年作品。大道在市区内的区段是石板路铺装，这一处理手法降低了车流速度，营造了一段优美的慢速驾驶观光体验。另一个体验大道的方式是在隔离带上步行或慢跑，或者是在侧道上骑车。

纪念大道上的房屋多数为殖民地风格，当然也有少数不一样的个体。

日落下的纪念大道

Branch博物馆，以及一座教堂

地点：
1603-3681 Monument Ave,
Richmond, VA 23220

ENG

Monument Avenue

Sarah Bice · July 12, 2017

中文版

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.