First Freedom Center, Richmond

#70 among attractions in Richmond

Museum, History museum, Specialty museum

Map

Facts and practical information

The First Freedom Center is a 501 nonprofit located in Richmond, Virginia. Its mission is to commemorate and educate about freedom of religion and conscience as proclaimed in Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Located in the Shockoe Slip district of downtown Richmond, the Center sits on the site where Jefferson's statute was enacted into law by the Virginia General Assembly on January 16, 1786. Championed through the Virginia General Assembly by James Madison, the statute was the first law of absolute religious freedom enacted in the young nation and served as a template for the religion clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would be ratified five years later. ()

Established: 2015Coordinates: 37°32'5"N, 77°25'57"W

Address

14 S 14th StDowntown Richmond (Shockoe Slip)Richmond 23219 United States

Contact

+1 804-649-0711

Website

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Richmond

Day trips

First Freedom Center – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Virginia State Capitol, Richmond Coliseum, The National, Norfolk Southern James River Bridge.

~1490 ftN
Colonial-style government landmark
Virginia State Capitol, Richmond
8 min walk • The Virginia State Capitol, a historical beacon in the heart of Richmond, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of American democracy. Designed by Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, in collaboration with French architect Charles-Louis...
0.7 miN
Sport venue, Sport, Outdoor activities
Richmond Coliseum, Richmond
18 min walk • Richmond Coliseum was an arena located in Richmond, Virginia, with a capacity of 13,500 that was most often used for various large concerts. The arena opened in 1971 and the region is looking to replace the aging facility with a larger one.
0.5 miN
Theater, Concerts and shows
The National, Richmond
14 min walk • The National Theater is a historic theater in Richmond, Virginia. Part of a city block along the 700 block of Broad Street once known as Theatre Row, it is the only surviving auditorium of the row.
~1270 ftS
Bridge
Norfolk Southern James River Bridge, Richmond
7 min walk • The Norfolk Southern James River Bridge is a bridge that carries Norfolk Southern Railway traffic over the James River in downtown Richmond, Virginia. The bridge was built by the Southern Railway. The bridge is over 2,000 feet long, and also spans over the western edge of Mayo Island.
~1130 ftSE
Bridge
James River Bridge, Richmond
6 min walk • The James River Bridge carries Interstate 95 across the James River in Richmond, Virginia.
~1690 ftNE
Greek Revival architecture, Church, Historical place
Monumental Church, Richmond
9 min walk • Monumental Church is a former Episcopal church that stands at 1224 E. Broad Street between N. 12th and College streets in Richmond, Virginia. Designed by architect Robert Mills, it is one of America's earliest and most distinctive Greek Revival churches.
~1590 ftNE
Greek Revival architecture, Church
First African Baptist Church, Richmond
8 min walk • The First African Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia is a prominent Black church. Founded in 1841, its members initially included both slaves and freedmen. It has since had a major influence on the local black community. At one point, it was one of the largest Protestant churches in the United States.
~1500 ftSW
Bridge
Rivanna Subdivision Trestle, Richmond
8 min walk • The Rivanna Subdivision Trestle is a trestle in Richmond, Virginia at the end of the Rivanna Subdivision. The bridge is the upper level of Triple Crossing, and also crosses United States Routes 360.
0.9 miN
Theater, Concerts and shows, Music venue
Hippodrome Theater, Richmond
24 min walk • The Hippodrome Theater is located in Richmond, Virginia. It is situated in the historical African-American neighborhood of Jackson Ward, which was referred to as "The Harlem of the South" during the 1920s.
0.5 miNW
Theater, Concerts and shows, Performing arts
Richmond CenterStage, Richmond
14 min walk • Richmond CenterStage is a performing arts center in Richmond, Virginia that includes the...
~1320 ftN
Museum, History museum, Historical place
Executive Mansion, Richmond
7 min walk • The Virginia Governor's Mansion, better known as the Executive Mansion, is located in Richmond, Virginia, on Capitol Square and serves as the official residence of the governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Designed by Alexander Parris, it is the oldest occupied governor's mansion in the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When is First Freedom Center open?

First Freedom Center is open:

Monday closed
Tuesday 10 am - 5 pm
Wednesday 10 am - 5 pm
Thursday 10 am - 5 pm
Friday 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 10 am - 5 pm

Which popular attractions are close to First Freedom Center?

Nearby attractions include Shockoe Slip, Richmond (2 min walk), Planters National Bank, Richmond (4 min walk), Lewis F. Powell, Richmond (5 min walk), Triple Crossing, Richmond (6 min walk).

How to get to First Freedom Center by public transport?

The nearest stations to First Freedom Center:

Train

Richmond Main Street (5 min walk)

Bus

A • Lines: 1A, 1C (13 min walk)
B • Lines: 1A, 1C (13 min walk)