As I begin my 50-mile trip, I leave behind my rural-town and drive down Route 288, passing by suburbs, and crossing the James River. When I reach my destination, the air feels heavy with history. Cobblestone streets and old brick buildings surround me as I walk through downtown. In less than an hour, the landscape has changed completely and I wonder what ghosts will whisper to me as I explore and find LOVE in this place.
Petersburg is a city, located roughly 30 minutes south of Richmond. While there are no official LOVE signs here (yet), there are a number of unofficial ones, several that support special causes- Lupus Awareness, Autism Acceptance, and Breast Cancer Awareness.
All of the HISTORY
If you love looking into the past of Virginia, Petersburg is a place to go. This city is rich with history, to include:
- The Petersburg National Battlefield which preserves the Siege of Petersburg and the famous Battle of the Crater (not the title of this blog 🙂
- Two of the nation’s oldest Black congregations – First Baptist Church (est. 1774) and Gillfield Baptist Church (est. 1797), and
- Being nicknamed the “Cockade City” by President James Madison, which honors the volunteers wearing “cockades” when they fought during the Siege of Fort Meigs
Two historical sites I was able to visit while there:
Blandford Church Museum and Cemetery, houses one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in America. It’s also one the few churches whose stained-glass windows were designed and installed under the direction of Louis Comfort Tiffany of New York. The cemetery was almost overwhelming in its size and the stained glass windows were absolutely gorgeous to see.
Centre Hill Museum, built in the 1820’s, provides visitors with a beautiful example of a Federal-style house. The external and internal architect details that have lasted over 200 years are magnificent to see. It was also fun to learn that two US Presidents visited this mansion during their terms (Abraham Lincoln and William Taft).
All of the EATS
Petersburg may surprise some with their varied culinary experiences, the places I popped into included:
If the Bridgerston’s wanted tea, I believe The Blue Willow Tea Room would be a favored spot for them. Its atmosphere sets a lovely tone with antique furniture and China sets being the main decorating focus. The tea was delicious and the host knew exactly what to recommend based on my taste. And the selection of sandwiches was awesome. And don’t leave until you visit the Penniston’s Alley Antiques next door. It offers two floors of beautiful antique items to explore.
For those looking for some of the best southern-style home cooked fare, the 1949 Winehouse is your place. Here I got to experience fried fat back, golden-crispy catfish and traditional collard greens. There is a sophisticated local club feel here where I can imagine many in the community come together and celebrate each other. A very special place for the area.
You may not think of an English pub when you think of Petersburg, but that’s exactly what you’ll get when you walk into The Brickhouse Run. Located in an almost 200 year old building, the menu offers both British and American themed options that are sure to please any patron who visits. They even have pewter mugs hanging over top of the bar, adding to the tavern-like atmosphere.
All of the SHOPS
While there are a plethora of stores in the area, antiques seemed to be a main-stay of Petersburg.
Jerry’s Antiques and More is for those looking for miscellaneous finds and “once-loved” items. There were a number of antique tools, vintage trinkets and everything in between. I purchased several old wooden levels for my husband that were very reasonably priced.
If you can imagine a marriage between vintage boho clothing and retro resale items, then you’re walking down the aisle to Petersburg Picker’s Bougie Goat Boutique. You can’t help but have fun browsing through the place and searching through the consignment clothing and collectibles.
And while I visited this shop during my Colonial Heights LOVE adventure, I’d be remiss not to go back to the Oak’s Antique Mall. This spot is known for being one of the best places in the Petersburg area for antiques and vintage items. Make sure you set aside enough time to browse as you will not want to rush walking through this place.
Petersburg is a place to love…
Petersburg is a place you could spend a weekend exploring its historical sites, restaurants and stores, OR simply spend a nice afternoon wandering Old Towne. There is a strong heart and soul feel to this city that makes it unique compared to others in Virginia. If you’re looking for a spot that’s rich in history and high in upcoming charm, Petersburg may be your next visit.
Need help planning a Petersburg trip? You got it.
Thank you Alex for joining me at the Petersburg Home for Ladies LOVE sign (pic featured at the top of this blog, 311 S. Jefferson Street)
*The title of the blog was inspired by Petersburg National Battlefield and the song by Pat Benatar.
♥️♥️♥️♥️
| Official ♥️ Signs Visited = 71 | LOVEworks Official Signs = 336 |
| Unofficial ♥️ Signs Visited = 66 | LOVEworks Unofficial Signs = 400+ |
| TOTAL VISITED = 137 | TOTAL LOVEworks Signs = 700+ |
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Important note: I always do my best to ensure everything in my blogs are factual and that I give credit and use quotations when pulling information from sources. If you believe there is something here that needs to be addressed, please email me directly as I want to be sure it is fixed. Thank you and happy LOVE sign hunting.
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