National Register of Historic Places

Belle Isle

Richmond (Independent City), Richmond County, Virginia
Listed
March 17, 1995
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
95000246

About this property

Belle Isle is a 54 acre island in the city of Richmond, Virginia on the James River, and is part of the James River Park System. It is accessible to pedestrian and bicycle traffic via a suspension footbridge that runs under the Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge from the northern shore or via a wooden bridge from the southern shore. Except when the water level of the James is high, it is also reachable by foot from the southern shore via easy boulder-hopping. From Belle Isle, one can see Hollywood Cemetery, the old Tredegar Iron Works, and Richmond City's skyline. There are many bike trails around the island as well as a small cliff used for rock climbing instruction.

Location

Richmond (Independent City), Richmond County, Virginia
37.52971, -77.45231

Categories

INDUSTRYMILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Belle Isle

This page lists Belle Isle. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Springhill Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Monroe, James, Tomb
Industrial
0.4 mi
Manchester Residential and Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Civil War
0.5 mi
Church of the Sacred Heart
Industrial
0.5 mi
Tredegar Iron Works
Listed
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Dahlgren Raid (Richmond Raid)
1864Civil War
1.2 mi
Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid
1864Civil War
1.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Belle Isle listed on the National Register?

Belle Isle was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 17, 1995.

What type of historic resource is Belle Isle?

Belle Isle is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Belle Isle?

The period of significance for Belle Isle is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Belle Isle?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Belle Isle will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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