Assets and Amenities

Fortune 500 companies and hot dog stands share the downtown business district with some of Richmond’s most exciting cultural venues. The region’s finest musical and theatrical productions showcase the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Ballet and Virginia Opera. The new, expanded  Greater Richmond Convention Center is located in the heart of downtown. The city center is also home to one of America’s oldest public markets, the 17th Street Farmers’ Market. This enduring world tradition brings local products to a local audience and serves as an anchor for community life by providing a setting for cultural and civic activities.

Situated on a hilltop in the heart of downtown is one of the country’s most magnificent capitol squares. Richmond’s Capitol Square is an oasis of ancient trees and rolling green lawn. Its crowning glory is the neo-Classical Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson. In the Capitol Rotunda is Virginia’s most treasured work of art — a life-sized statue of George Washington, sculpted by the famous artist Jean Antoine Houdon. This sculpture was the only one for which Washington ever posed. The Governor’s mansion has undergone renovations and a more pedestrian/tourist-friendly upgrade to coincide with Virginia’s 400th Anniversary celebration slated to kick off in May 2007 (1607-2007).

During the spring, summer and fall seasons, downtown Richmond comes alive with an abundance of outdoor concerts and festivals, including:

Friday Cheers (http://www.venturerichmond.com/events/) - A Richmond Region tradition that features the region’s top bands. It’s a great way to unwind at the end of the workweek.

First Fridays Artwalk – On the first Friday of each month, art aficionados of all ages come out in droves to downtown’s Broad Street Corridor, rain or shine, to experience the diverse arts and cultural venues Richmond’s thriving art community has to offer.