The city of Petersburg, VA is located 25 miles south of Richmond, on the banks of the Appomattox River and at the juncture of the I-85 and I-95. To the north is the community of Colonial Heights and to the west are Fort Lee, the community of Hopewell and the James River.
The area's main point of interest is Petersburg National Battlefield, the site of the Siege of Petersburg, in which the Union Army under General Ulysses S. Grant waged a 10-month campaign against the Confederate army, under General Robert E. Lee. The Battlefield Park has three visitor centers and offers an educational driving tour.
Petersburg has a historic downtown area with points of interest that include the Blandford Church built in 1735, the Siege Museum and the Centre Hill Museum. Petersburg is also home to Virginia State University (VSU), founded in 1882, which has a 236-acre main campus across the river from downtown.
Hotels and motels in Petersburg and Hopewell put visitors within a short driving distance of all area attraction as well as from the army base at Ft. Lee.
The city of Petersburg, VA is located 25 miles south of Richmond, on the banks of the Appomattox River and at the juncture of the I-85 and I-95. To the north is the community of Colonial Heights and to the west are Fort Lee, the community of Hopewell and the James River.
