timeline of richmond, virginia

18th Century History

1800s - Gabriel Prosser's Rebellion (first major American slave rebellion)
1810s -
1820s -
1830s - Industrial Revolution hits Richmond, horse-drawn rail line opens between Richmond and Chesterfield (Midlothian area)coal mines. First steam train arrives. Tredegar Iron Company opens. Poe is editor of the Southern Literary Messenger (1835 - 1837)
1840s - Richmond and Danville Railroad chartered 1847, completed to Danville by 1854
1850s - completion of Great Ship Lock Park and Richmond's canal system.
1860s - The Civil War (1861 - 1865) has a profound impact on the Richmond area and culture. The city becomes capital of the Confederacy and the entire region becomes host for many famous Civil War battlefields. Richmond burns again during the retreat of the Confederates. Reconstruction affects Richmond as Virginia falls under martial law in military district #1 until 1869.
1870s - First Cigarette manufacturing plant (P.H. Mayo & Bro. Tobacco Co)
1880s - Second Industrial Revolution occurs as Richmond's tobacco empire expands. first electric streetcar opens.
1890s - Streetcar expansion begins (First monument on monument avenue. Ginter purchases Northside lots)

Jake Wells, theater mogul, builds a number of vaudeville theaters and opera houses in Richmond. Other theaters and opera houses open on what became "Theater Row", to include The Bijou, the Colonial Theater, The Lyric Opera House.
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sacred Heart Church (in Manchester), and Sisters of Visitation convent (now Richmond Hill retreat center) are paid for entirely by Thomas Fortune Ryan's money (1901 - 1906). reference:19 Jan 05 Style weekly article

1910s - Manchester and Richmond agree to consolidate (mutual agreement), other annexations in 1914

Development of the Fan district.
Ellen Glasgow and James Branch Cabell.
WRVA takes the air (1925)
Opening of The Byrd Theater(1928), Loew's Theater(1928) (now called Carpenter Center) and The Mosque (1925) (now called Landmark Theater).
John Marshall Hotel opens (Oct 1929)

23 square mile area of Chesterfield annexed 1-1-70
RPS busing plan begins fall (1971)
Opening of Cloverleaf Mall (1972)
Richmond magazine begins as Surroundings magazine (not published regulary until 1986).
Opening of the Powhite Parkway (01/23/1973) and Downtown Expressway (

expansion of VCU along Broad street to include Siegel center and RAMZ apartments (2000 - present)
Convention center district remodeling -- to include Jackson Ward development, and replacement of old department stores and 6trh street marketplace with new arts center. (2000-present)
The Cordish Company builds Riverside on the James, a Power plant www.cordish.com/developments/powerplant.asp -like development set to open on Brown's Island. (2003-Estimated Spring 2005)
Ricmond Coliseum changes hands, and Renegades (hockey team)is replaced by Riverdogs (2003)
two new malls open nearly simultaneously at Stony point and Short Pump (Fall 2003)
Due to perceived corruption in city government, Wilder-Bliley commissions passes legislation to elect an at-large mayor. (2004)
Shockoe Bottom development -- 2004 push to develop ball park despite devastating flood damage from Tropical storm Gaston on 30 Aug 04.
City of Richmond purchases and begins commercial development of former Cloverleaf mall site. (2004)

2006 Completion of Richmond International Airport Construction Project
2007 Jamestown and Richmond founding 400th anniversary, Opening of Arts centers and Carpenter center
First Freedom Center to open. website

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