Richmond has long promoted itself as a cultural destination of the South, beckoning visitors with a variety of leisure opportunities. The postcards displayed here are images of Richmond throughout the years encompassing visitors’ journeys. We see cards from luxurious hotels like the Jefferson and the John Marshall. Images of the Lubin and Bijou theaters, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Mosque (now the Altria Theater) indicate the importance of Richmond’s artistic culture. A spot on the James River, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Belle Diner, and the baseball field at Richmond Stadium gives us some insight to the recreational activities the city promised its visitors.
Absent from the postcard images of the city are centers of African American cultural life like Jackson Ward. Before 1963, city leisure was segregated by law.