Uncivil Wards
Explore the Civil War hospitals, prisons, and overlooked human stories that transformed Richmond’s Shockoe district.
Explore this tourCome see what lies beneath modern Richmond
History is all around us. You just need to know where to look.
Behind familiar facades and beneath busy streets are stories that rarely make the standard tour. RVA Hidden History Storytellers offers carefully researched walking tours and private events centered on the people and places that made Richmond complicated, inventive, and unforgettable.
Whether you live here or are visiting for the first time, we invite you to slow down, look closer, and leave with a richer understanding of Virginia’s capital city.
Public Walking Tours
Choose your path through Richmond’s past
Rails & Sails
Trace the canals, rail lines, docks, and industries that powered Richmond’s growth along the James River.
Explore this tourRichmond’s Revolutionary Spirit
Discover the people and places that made Richmond a center of revolutionary debate, independence, and nation-building.
Explore this tour
Legends & Lore of Hollywood Cemetery
Walk through one of Richmond’s most remarkable landscapes while exploring its legends, symbolism, and lasting mysteries.
Explore this tour
Edgar Allan Poe’s Richmond: The City That Shaped the Writer
Follow Edgar Allan Poe through the Richmond places, relationships, and turning points that shaped his life and literary imagination.
Explore this tourMake History Personal
Private tours and custom events for your group
Plan a private walking tour, Brewing in Richmond experience, History Dinner, speaking engagement, or step-on guide service built around your group.
Storytellers first
Careful research. Compelling storytelling.
RVA Hidden History grew from a simple realization: many of Richmond’s most revealing stories did not fit neatly into a conventional tour. Owners Beth and Chris Houlihan created a place for those stories—and for the people whose experiences are too often left in the margins.
Our tours are built to be informative, conversational, and grounded in the places where history happened.
Know before you go
A few helpful details
What happens if it rains?
Tours run rain or shine except in extreme weather, as determined by RVA Hidden History management. If we cancel a tour, we will contact guests and offer the choice of rescheduling or a full refund. Refunds for weather are not offered unless RVA Hidden History cancels the tour.
Are your tours family friendly?
We consider our walking tours family friendly, but we encourage parents and guardians to use discretion. Our material is based on historical fact, and history can include war, death, injustice, and other difficult subjects. We provide context without sugar-coating the past. Contact us if you would like guidance about a particular tour.
Do you offer private tours?
Yes. Our public walking-tour subjects can be arranged for private groups, and we offer additional private-only experiences. All private events are subject to guide, venue, and partner availability. Please send an inquiry as early as possible.
Your next Richmond story starts here