Near Henrico in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

First Park Headquarters

Photographed by Shawn Oliver, July 1, 2015

1. First Park Headquarters Marker

Inscription. This 1930s photograph shows the headquarters for the Richmond Battlefields Park Corporation. That private organization, composed of Richmond citizens, made the first effort to preserve Civil War battlefields around the city. In 1927 they purchased Fort Harrison. The Corporation donated the fort and hundreds of other acres of local battlefield land to become the first state park in Virginia. Congress established Richmond National Battlefield Park in 1936. This log cabin served as the park's visitor center and headquarters until 1959. It was renovated in 2007 for use as a seasonal visitor center.

Erected by Richmond National Battlefield Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.

Location. 37° 25.674′ N, 77° 22.359′ W. Marker is near Henrico, Virginia, in Henrico County. It can be reached from Battlefield Park Road 0.2 miles south of Picnic Road. Marker is located on the grounds of the Fort Harrison Visitor Center, (building described by the marker) which is near the entrance to Fort Harrison. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8621 Battlefield Park Road, Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named First Park Headquarters (here, next to this marker); Freedom Fighters (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Fort Harrison Trail (a few steps from this marker); Confederate Counterattack (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Fort Harrison (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Unique Photograph (about 300 feet away); Counterattack (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Surprise Attack (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Henrico.

Other markers no longer nearby. Fort Harrison Trail (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Fort Harrison (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Surprise Attack (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. This marker replaced an older one at this location titled, "First Park Headquarters"

Also see . . . Richmond National Battlefield Park. (Submitted on July 6, 2015.)

Fort Harrison Visitor Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Shawn Oliver, July 1, 2015

2. Fort Harrison Visitor Center

As said by the marker, the visitor center is only open seasonally. In 2015, the center will be open from Memorial Day to Labour Day, Wednesady to Sunday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

The J. Ambler Johnston Fireplace image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 2, 2024

3. The J. Ambler Johnston Fireplace

The acquisition and restoration of Fort Harrison and the erection of this cabin were a part of the activities of the Richmond Battlefield Parks Corporation a non-profit organization to preserve and make accessible the battlefields around Richmond of which J. Ambler Johnston was Secretary and Treasurer. This fireplace was constructed in 1931, largely with his personal toil and therefore the General James Longstreet Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans and the National Park Service place this plaque on September 29th,1966 on the 102nd anniversary of the Battle of Fort Harrison

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2015, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 512 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on January 9, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 2, 2015, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on November 3, 2024, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.