Historic Petersburg Foundation, Inc.

06/20/2026

Petersburg’s residents had grown accustomed to news of a distant war. In the summer of 1864, everything changed when the conflict arrived at their doorsteps. Explore how the people of Virginia’s second-largest city experienced, endured, and adapted to the Civil War.
Meet at the South Side Depot/Petersburg Visitor Center 37 River Street, Petersburg, VA, today (Saturday 6/20) at 6:00 p.m. Wear comfortable shoes and bring drinking water, program includes a one-mile walk. This program is partnership with Petersburg National Battlefield, the City of Petersburg, and Petersburg Battlefields Foundation.


Image: “Petersburg, Virginia. Interior of colonial mansion on Bollingbrook street” 1865. (Library of Congress)

06/18/2026

🤔💭 What Could Pocahontas Island Parks and Green Spaces Look Like?

Join us and Timmons Group for the Master Plan Design Presentation. Explore the designs, ask questions, and continue shaping the future of these important community spaces. 🌳🤝

06/18/2026

Don't miss this informative and fascinating walking tour downtown on Saturday, June 20 – "City Under Siege". Part of the Petersburg National Battlefield and Petersburg Battlefields Foundation Sunset Tour series.

By June 1864, the residents of Petersburg had endured the strain of faraway war. Everything changed when the war came to their doorsteps. Discover how the people of Virginia’s second largest city experienced, adapted to, and persisted through an unimaginable ordeal.

Meet at the South Side Depot/Petersburg Visitor Center at 37 River Street. Tour will be led by Park Ranger Andrew Frantz and begins at 6 pm. There is no charge to join. Just wear comfortable shoes and bring water.

05/18/2026

05/15/2026

For the last several months, the City has been working on a comprehensive update to the Historic Districts Design Guidelines, which lay out the do's and don'ts for properties in the city's local historic districts. The Walker Collaborative will be presenting a final draft of the updated guidelines on Wednesday May 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the Peterburg Public Library multi-purpose room. Light refreshments will be provided, and the consultant and city staff will be available for questions.

Whether you own property in a historic district or you're interested in the city's ongoing preservation efforts, please feel encouraged to attend!

05/13/2026

S.T.E.A.M. Comes to City Point this Saturday, May 16 at 6 p.m.--the first program in the 2026 History at Sunset series. Learn more about City Point in 1864-65 through Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. Meet the ranger at the entrance gate to City Point, 1001 Pecan Avenue, Hopewell, VA. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.

Image: Library of Congress “City Point, Virginia. View of barges transports, etc.”



Alt Text: A black and white photo taken between 1861-1869 of the barges and transports along the James or Appomattox River at City Point.

05/12/2026

Check out The Archive Project at the Appomattox Regional Governor's School (which we recently gave the 2026 Petersburg Heritage Award):

thearchiveproject.us

(Image: Mr. Stoneking and some of his students at our recent Annual Meeting)