Project Summary and Scope

The Shockoe Project.

Uncovering the story of enslavement on sites of historic significance.

Please visit the following YouTube link for the Shockoe Project Revealed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jbyZPxOyRk

The Shockoe Project

Formerly The Enslaved African Heritage Campus, The Shockoe Project will create a comprehensive, experiential destination that places Richmond at the center of the American story by recognizing the history of enslaved and free Africans and people of African descent.  Anticipated components of The Shockoe Project include new indoor and outdoor programmed experiences including an Interpretive Center located on the north end of the first floor of the Main Street Station and site selection recommendations for a National Slavery Museum experience.  The Shockoe Project also includes improvements and additional commemoration aspects to The Richmond Slave Trail, The Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground, the Winfree Cottage and its relocation back to Manchester south Richmond, The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground at 5th and Hospital Streets (1305 N. 5th St.), the former slave trading sites throughout Shockoe Valley and renovation of the Reconciliation Statue Plaza.  The Shockoe Project is currently in the master planning stages.  The Shockoe Project website launched winter 2024.  

Project Funding

Allocated funding for The Shockoe Project totals $58 million and includes the recent additional $10.1 million allocated in the City's FY26 Adopted Budget and $13.4 allocation from the Commonwealth of Virginia, General Assembly.  The city received an $11,000,000 Mellon Foundation grant to supplement the creation of the Shockoe Institute as part of The Shockoe Project, that grant is included in the aforementioned $58 million.

Design Team

The City of Richmond contracted with Greeley & Hansen to provide hydrologic and hydraulic modeling studies to guide the opportunities available that allows new vertical construction in Shockoe Bottom within the limits The Shockoe Project campus.  FEMA updated the floodplain and floodway maps nationally in 2022, Shockoe Bottom is now impacted by a designated floodway within the 100 year floodplain restricting what can be placed within it in regards to vertical construction that would obstruct and redirect flood waters in a 100 year storm event.

Baskervill, led by Burt Pinnock, has been hired as the design team for all projects under The Shockoe Project.

Design Schedules:

Slave Trail Improvements and Slave Trail Head: construction to commence Spring 2025.

Winfree Cottage relocation and site design: construction to commence Summer 2025. 

Reconciliation Statue Plaza Restoration: scope of renovations to be determined by Fall 2025.

Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground at 5th and Hospital: Mural project complete, project conceptual design has begun and has evolved with Community Engagement via public engagement meetings.

Lumpkin's Jail Site: Design advancement and structural subgrade engineering analysis underway.

Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground at 1554 E. Broad St: Schematic Design underway.

Construction Schedules:

Slave Trail pathway improvements and the Slave Trail Head at Ancarrow's landing will be constructed 2025 and completed early 2026.  An international search for Public Art has selected the art for this site.

Winfree Cottage will be relocated and a new site developed by Spring 2026.

Project Contact:

Project Manager: Jeannie Welliver, jeannie.welliver@rva.gov, 804.646.7322

Project Sponsor: Leonard Mantey, leonard.mantey@rva.gov, 804.357.2728