Afternoon: Welcome to Richmond! Check-in is 3:00 PM for your hotel room, at the hotel's lobby desk. Road Scholar registration is 3:00-5:00 PM - look for us at a table in the hotel lobby..

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel

Evening: Orientation and introductions.

Lodging: DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Richmond

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: In hotel

Morning: We make every effort to keep our schedules as we've listed them here. However, sometimes we may have to modify time of day or the day itself to fit an instructor's availability. Our first class of the program gives an overview of Richmond's history, architecture and plantations.

Lunch: In hotel

Afternoon: Our field trip this afternoon begins with a visit to Virginia's State Capitol, which was designed by Thomas Jefferson and which has many well-known monuments on its grounds. Jefferson's design was inspired by the Maison Caree in Nimes, France as well as classical Roman temple design. Houdon's famous marble statue of George Washington graces the center of the Capitol's rotunda. We'll explore this building with Capitol guides and hear stories of famous figures for each room. Then we'll move on to Wilton House (1753), an historic plantation house overlooking the James River, owned by the Society of Colonial Dames..

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel

Evening: Learn about the lifestyle, culture and traditions at 18th and 19th century plantations.

Lodging: DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Richmond

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Field trip to Berkeley and Shirley Plantations/lunch at a local tavern/evening class

Breakfast: In hotel

Morning: All day field trip by coach to Berkeley and Shirley plantations in Charles City, approximately 45 minutes' travel. Explore the plantation mansions and grounds. The Georgian-style Berkeley was home to William Henry Harrison ("Tippecanoe"), who became the 9th U.S. President, and his grandson Benjamin, who was the 23rd President. Shirley, Virginia's oldest plantation, is recognized as an architectural treasure. Shirley has a 3-story "flying" staircase that is the only one of its kind in America

Lunch: Lunch at a Charles City County tavern

Afternoon: Shirley and Berkeley plantations are located in beautiful settings on the James River, which is tidal and rather wide in this section. Cameras are not permitted in the Houses. The plantation grounds have limited barrier-free access, with grassy, uneven terrain.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel

Evening: Class: People of Color on the plantations of early Virginia

Lodging: DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Richmond

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In hotel

Morning: Class: Plantation Life and Culture

Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: Enjoy a four-block walk to Brown’s Island, a municipal park along the rapids of the James River. Another three blocks brings us to the Tredegar Iron Works, which today serves as the National Park Service headquarters for Richmond National Battlefield.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: Class: Richmond Monuments and Masterpieces

Lodging: DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Richmond

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Field trip to Tuckahoe Plantation/Virginia Museum of Fine Arts/evening entertainment

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Our field trip presents a unique opportunity to visit the privately-owned Tuckahoe Plantation, boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson. Tuckahoe, 25 minutes west of downtown, has been the location for movies and TV documentaries. Founded in 1733 by the Randolph family in the era of great plantations, Tuckahoe is still privately-owned and remains one of the most complete plantations in America. This location is not barrier-free -- you will be walking on uneven, grassy terrain.

Lunch: Lunch at the art museum

Afternoon: Our next stop will be one of Richmond's treasures that contains treasures of its own: the splendid Museum of Fine Arts, which recently re-opened after four years of renovation and expansion. The VMFA is now one of the top ten comprehensive art museums in the US, displaying more than 5,000 years of art from around the world. Especially pertinent to this week's subject are the early American galleries with art and furnishings. Explore numerous permanent galleries connected by a 4-story atrium designed by London-born architect, who now resides in Oregon. The VMFA also contains a sculpture garden, reflecting pools, focus galleries for changing exhibits, a cafe and a restaurant, and a museum shop. Information on special exhibits, collections and upcoming events is at www.vmfa.museum.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel or at a local restaurant.

Evening: You won't want to miss the entertainment tonight, which has music typical of early Virginia. You'll learn a lot of history, too...and some really tall tales. How will you know which ones to believe?

Lodging: DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Richmond

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart From: Departure after morning class and lunch.

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Enjoy the final program class on Richmond History, Architecture and Plantations

Lunch: Lunch and departure

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch