You’re invited to experience history with a twist during the Historic Richmond Region Bank Travel Post FAM. Join us February 7-9 as we explore more than 400 years of history and experience in the modern Richmond region, abundant in art, theater, culture, food and music. We’ll enjoy a special brand of Virginia hospitality during dinner at the Half Way House. Established in 1760, the Half Way House has been a fixture for weary travelers on the road between Richmond and Petersburg since before the Revolutionary War and continues to serve delicious food and history today. Dinner will be followed by a performance by the Sunshine Boys at the Swift Creek Mill Theatre. From gristmill to corn whiskey distillery to theater, the old mill setting provides the perfect backdrop for main-stage productions. We’ll drive through the city of Richmond while learning about history, the James River rapids and culture, and explore Monument Avenue, the only street in the United States to receive the national historic landmark status. We’ll also tour the Virginia Capitol. Designed by Thomas Jefferson, this neoclassical marvel has been in use since 1788 and features a hidden dome, prehistoric fossils in its marble floor, the Virginia Hall of Presidents and a magnificent life-size statue of George Washington. Learn about the great Shockoe and Church Hill districts en route to St. John’s Church. It is the oldest wooden, continuously used church in the country and is the site of Patrick Henry’s famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech. We’ll witness a re-enactment of that important time when all eyes and ears were focused on England and its tyranny. We’ll tour the Virginia War Memorial and enjoy a Confederate-theme lunch on property. The memorial honors fallen Virginian soldiers from World War II to the present. We’ll lay a wreath of honor at the Shrine of Memory, explore the exhibits and watch the poignant film “Into Battle.” Throughout lunch, guests will be transported back to Richmond of 1862 to experience Civil War-era music and dress and have the opportunity to interact with a Confederate Army recruiter. Next comes the Fifth Federal Reserve for an unusual “Fed Experience” and tour. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will get us in touch with our artistic sides while we experience the beautiful art of Dale Chihuly. Then we’ll fill up on famous Virginia barbecue at Buz and Ned’s, where Buz was challenged to a “throwdown” with Bobby Flay and won. Finally, we’ll tour Hollywood Cemetery, where two U.S. presidents and the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, and his family are laid to rest. This serene and parklike setting offers a blend of history and lore. To register for the familiarization tour (FAM), contact Liz Stewart at the Richmond Metropolitan CVB at 804-783-7442 or lstewart@richmondva.org. The FAM is for bank directors only who are registered to attend the Bank Travel Conference. The FAM will begin after the conference ends on Thursday, February 7, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. Return travel should be planned after 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 9. For additional questions, contact Liz Stewart at the above number and email, or Janie Lawson at 804-783-7409 or jlawson@richmondva.org.
