During the Revolutionary War period, several notable events occurred in the city, including Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech in 1775 at St. John’s Church, and the passage of the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom written by Thomas Jefferson. During the American Civil War, Richmond served as the second and permanent capital of the Confederate States of America.
The economy in Richmond is primarily driven by law, finance, and government, with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, as well as legal and banking firms, located in the downtown area.
Richmond is rich with culture and offers endless entertainment through museums, parks, festivals and more. Several parks are located along the James River, and the James River Parks System offers bike trails, hiking and nature trails, and many scenic overlooks along the river’s route through the city. The James River has the only class III and IV urban rapids in the entire country.