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<div class="vw-attraction">
{{Attraction header
|name=Virginia War Memorial
|image=War memorial in Richmond, VA 2.jpg
|alt=A statue stands inside the glass-fronted Virginia War Memorial pavilion beside a reflecting pool under a clear blue sky.
|kicker=RICHMOND MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
|summary=A place of remembrance overlooking the James River, with a memorial shrine, museum exhibits, and stories of Virginians who served.
}}
{{Attraction quick facts
|label1=Location
|value1=[[Richmond, Virginia]]
|label2=Address
|value2=621 S. Belvidere Street, Richmond
|label3=Admission
|value3=Free; confirm current details before visiting
|label4=Hours
|value4=Typically Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4 p.m.
}}
<div class="vw-attraction-intro">
Overlooking the James River and downtown skyline, the Virginia War Memorial is both a solemn place to remember Virginia’s fallen and an active museum and education center. Its open-air Shrine of Memory, glass walls engraved with names, and eternal flame give the grounds a quiet, reflective character; exhibits and programs add personal stories and historical context.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://vawarmemorial.org/
|title=Welcome to the Virginia War Memorial
|website=Virginia War Memorial
|publisher=Virginia War Memorial Foundation
|access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

Plan time for both the outdoor memorial and the indoor exhibits. The site includes the Shrine of Memory, a museum, a veterans’ art gallery, a theater, and education spaces. The memorial is at 621 S. Belvidere Street in [[Richmond, Virginia]]; hours and access can change, so check the official visit information before setting out.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.dvs.virginia.gov/virginia-war-memorial/
|title=Virginia War Memorial
|website=Virginia Department of Veterans Services
|publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia
|access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://vawarmemorial.org/plan-your-visit/learn-about-our-spaces/
|title=Special Spaces at the Memorial
|website=Virginia War Memorial
|publisher=Virginia War Memorial Foundation
|access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>
</div>

<div class="vw-commerce-flow">
{{Book destination
|destination=VA-VIRGINIA-WAR-MEMORIAL
|name=Virginia War Memorial
}}
{{Viator maybe
|destination=VA-VIRGINIA-WAR-MEMORIAL
}}
</div>

== Why visit the Virginia War Memorial? ==
This is a place to encounter Virginia’s military history through names and individual stories, rather than through monuments alone. The Shrine invites a quiet walk and reflection; museum displays, documentary films, artifacts, photographs, and oral histories broaden the visit with accounts of service and sacrifice.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://vawarmemorial.org/
|title=Welcome to the Virginia War Memorial
|website=Virginia War Memorial
|publisher=Virginia War Memorial Foundation
|access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

The grounds also offer a striking view across the James River toward the city. Visitors can take in the architecture and landscape at their own pace, or look for a scheduled ceremony, tour, or educational program. The experience is contemplative, and the subject matter may be emotional for some visitors.

== Start here ==
Begin at the Shrine of Memory, where the names are engraved on stone and glass. Then visit the museum exhibits to explore the stories and historical context behind the memorial. If time allows, pause at the grounds’ overlooks and walk through the landscaped outdoor spaces.

== What to see and do ==
<div class="vw-attraction-card-grid">
{{Attraction card
|title=Explore Richmond’s museums
|link=Virginia's Museums and Exhibits
|text=Use the memorial as one stop in a wider look at Virginia’s museums and exhibits, then check which other collections in Richmond fit your interests.
}}
{{Attraction card
|title=Put the memorial in Virginia’s military-history context
|link=Virginia's Civil War Sites
|text=The memorial honors Virginians who served across multiple conflicts. For a broader exploration of the Commonwealth’s military past, consider the state’s historic sites and battlefields.
}}
{{Attraction card
|title=Continue your Richmond history visit
|link=Richmond, Virginia
|text=Explore more of the capital city’s museums, historic districts, and riverfront after your visit to the memorial.
}}
{{Attraction card
|title=Visit the American Civil War Museum
|link=American Civil War Museum
|text=Explore another Richmond museum devoted to the history and varied experiences of the Civil War.
}}
</div>

== History and significance ==
During World War II, nearly 10,000 Virginians serving in the U.S. Armed Forces died. In 1950, the Virginia General Assembly authorized a memorial to honor them. By its dedication on February 29, 1956, the design also commemorated Virginians killed in the Korean War.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://vawarmemorial.org/about/history-and-architecture/
|title=History and Architecture
|website=Virginia War Memorial
|publisher=Virginia War Memorial Foundation
|access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

Architects Samuel J. Collins and his nephew Richard E. Collins designed the Shrine of Memory as an open pavilion combining modern design with classical influences. Its glass walls set the engraved names against views of Richmond and the James River. The sculpture Memory, by Leo F. Friedlander, stands beside the eternal flame.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://vawarmemorial.org/about/history-and-architecture/
|title=History and Architecture
|website=Virginia War Memorial
|publisher=Virginia War Memorial Foundation
|access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

The Shrine has expanded over time to include Virginians killed in later conflicts. The memorial’s official site describes close to 12,000 names honored there, arranged by county or city and then alphabetically. The grounds have also grown into a museum and education center, with spaces for exhibits, archives, veterans’ art, recorded stories, classes, and public programs.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://vawarmemorial.org/plan-your-visit/exhibits/shrine-of-memory/
|title=Shrine of Memory
|website=Virginia War Memorial
|publisher=Virginia War Memorial Foundation
|access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://vawarmemorial.org/about/history-and-architecture/
|title=History and Architecture
|website=Virginia War Memorial
|publisher=Virginia War Memorial Foundation
|access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

== Planning a visit ==
The memorial is located at 621 S. Belvidere Street in Richmond. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services lists typical hours as Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and Sunday, noon–4 p.m.; it also lists holiday closures. Because hours, building access, and events can change, confirm current details with the official site before visiting.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.dvs.virginia.gov/virginia-war-memorial/
|title=Virginia War Memorial
|website=Virginia Department of Veterans Services
|publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia
|access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

The Shrine and interior exhibits offer different experiences, so allow time for both if they are open during your visit. Check the official calendar for ceremonies, tours, educational programs, and other events. The memorial’s official website is the best source for current visitor information and any changes to access.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://vawarmemorial.org/
|title=Welcome to the Virginia War Memorial
|website=Virginia War Memorial
|publisher=Virginia War Memorial Foundation
|access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

== Nearby attractions ==
<div class="vw-attraction-nearby-grid">
{{Nearby card
|title=American Civil War Museum
|link=American Civil War Museum
|text=A Richmond museum exploring the Civil War and its history.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia
|link=Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia
|text=Continue exploring Virginia history and culture at this Richmond museum.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
|link=Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
|text=Visit the home and learn about the life and legacy of Richmond businesswoman and civil rights leader Maggie L. Walker.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Virginia Museum of History & Culture
|link=Virginia Museum of History & Culture
|text=Explore exhibitions and collections focused on Virginia’s history and culture.
}}
</div>

<div class="vw-amazon-flow">
'''Travel books and maps:''' [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Virginia%20War%20Memorial%20Virginia%20travel%20guide%20map&tag=virginiawiki-20 Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon]
<div class="vw-affiliate-disclosure">As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases.</div>
</div>

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://vawarmemorial.org/ Virginia War Memorial — official website]
* [https://www.dvs.virginia.gov/virginia-war-memorial/ Virginia War Memorial — Virginia Department of Veterans Services]
</div>

[[Category:Attractions in Virginia]]

Virginia War Memorial - Revision history

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