If this year’s early spring has you ready to skip outside and embrace the longer days and warming temperatures, add a few of these Richmond sights to your adventure list. Since Richmond has such a long and diverse history, our city is filled with interesting things to explore. These ‘oddities’ add to our unique landscape… and to your early spring calendar!
The Grand Kugel: A 29-ton rock that you can spin with the touch of a finger? The Science Museum of Virginia features this physical phenomenon right outside its front door. Perfectly spherical and cradled in a massive concave base with a thin layer of water that allows it to spin, the Kugel ball is an engineering wonder. Check it out on a stroll down Broad Street or bring the family for a fun day at the museum.
The Egyptian Building: One of the best examples of Egyptian Revival architecture in the whole United States is tucked away in downtown Richmond. It was built in 1845 by Thomas Stewart and has been used as a medical training facility continuously since it was constructed and now houses classrooms and offices of the School of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Mr. Smedley: This bronze statue of a street entertainer was crafted by Jack Witt, the local artist who also created Richmond’s Mr. Bojangles statue. Long ago, Mr. Smedley was located in the Sixth Street Marketplace, but he’s since been moved to Jefferson Park in Union Hill.
The Markel Building: Inspired by the crinkled foil on a baked potato (no, really!), this near West End office building is listed as one of the world’s ugliest buildings.