West of the Boulevard
Encyclopedia
West of the Boulevard, alternately known as the Museum District, is a neighborhood in the city of Richmond, Virginia
. It is anchored by the contiguous six-block tract of museums along the west side of Boulevard
, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
and the Virginia Historical Society
, hence the name.
It is roughly bounded by the Boulevard on the east, I-195 on the west, Monument Avenue and Broad Street on the north, and Carytown on the south. Much of that is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.
Parts of the area had been in active use as farmland into the late 19th century, and though part was notably used as a Civil War veteran's home at that time, it was primarily developed between 1895 and 1940. It is largely populated with townhouses in styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Though much of the district is residential, there are several schools, religious facilities, and other institutional uses throughout.
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. It is anchored by the contiguous six-block tract of museums along the west side of Boulevard
Boulevard (Richmond, Virginia)
Boulevard is a historic street in the near West End of Richmond, Virginia, providing access to Byrd Park. It serves as the border between the Carytown/Museum District to the west and the Fan district to the east...
, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The Virginia Museum of Fine arts, or VMFA, is an art museum in Richmond, Virginia, in the United States, which opened in 1936.The museum is owned and operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia, while private donations, endowments, and funds are used for the support of specific programs and all...
and the Virginia Historical Society
Virginia Historical Society
The Virginia Historical Society , founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a major repository, research, and teaching center for Virginia history...
, hence the name.
It is roughly bounded by the Boulevard on the east, I-195 on the west, Monument Avenue and Broad Street on the north, and Carytown on the south. Much of that is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.
Parts of the area had been in active use as farmland into the late 19th century, and though part was notably used as a Civil War veteran's home at that time, it was primarily developed between 1895 and 1940. It is largely populated with townhouses in styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Though much of the district is residential, there are several schools, religious facilities, and other institutional uses throughout.