Going to Richmond, Virginia? Shockoe Bottom is a vibrant, developing neighborhood on the east side of the city, adjacent to the James River. The Bottom was first laid out in 1737, as the city was just getting started, and derives its name from the creek that bordered the west side of Richmond in the mid-18th century.
The history of Shockoe Bottom is fascinating and critical to the history of the city of Richmond, the state of Virginia, and the United States of America. Prior to 1807, the Shockoe Bottom area served as a debarkation point for captured slave cargo being transported from Africa to the New World. After 1807, the Bottom became a port of embarkation for slaves being sent to the Deep South as labor for the many plantation owners driving the agrarian economy. With the number of slave transactions estimated to be in the high tens of thousands, Shockoe Bottom was one of the most important slave trading centers in the United States.
Today, Shockoe Bottom is one of Richmond’s trendiest and most progressive neighborhoods. In recent years the Bottom has been subjected to intense professional and retail development that has made the neighborhood a venue for some of Richmond’s best shopping, restaurants and nightclubs.
Visitors to the Bottom who are looking for something a little different can dine at Havana ’59, a Cuban-style restaurant with an amazing selection of delicious foods. Other favorite Bottom restaurants include Mc Cormack’s Irish Pub and the River City Diner. No matter what your taste, the Bottom is sure to offer a dining experience that will most certainly please your palate.
The Bottom also offers a multitude of specialty stores and retail shops, making it a great destination for all of your shopping needs. The nearby Market at Tobacco Row features 34,000 square feet of shopping space, covering everything from the latest fashions to necessary grocery items.
The area encompassed by Shockoe Bottom is filled with historical structures and architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The many historic homes include the residence of Adam Craig, whose daughter was the subject of Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, “To Helen.
One of the most prominent architectural sites in the Bottom is the Main Street Station. The Main Street Station is a 1901 rail center with chateau-like architecture that stands out as unique from street level or from the nearby interstate. Recent development is bringing the Station back to life as a rail destination.
Shockoe Bottom is also home to the 17th Street Farmer’s Market, where wares have been peddled continuously since the late 1700s, and the Mason’s Hall, which has the distinction of being the oldest Masonic Hall in continuous use in the United States (since 1878). Our first President and former commander of the Continental Army, George Washington, was a member when the hall was known as Lodge #13.
As one of Richmond’s oldest and most important neighborhoods, Shockoe Bottom has a lot to offer visitors with a wide variety of tastes and preferences. If you are interested in the historical aspects of the Bottom, I recommend taking the Sunday Walking Tour offered by the Richmond History Center. For only $10, you get a guided walking tour of the Bottom’s most prominent historical structures, along with a detailed history of the area’s role in the slave trade and in the industrial development of Richmond.
Since I live in the area, I visit the Bottom regularly for my shopping and dining needs. If you are going to be in the Richmond, Virginia area, Shockoe Bottom is worth a visit. From incredible architecture, to historical significance, to retail and specialty shopping, to an incredible selection of dining experiences, Shockoe Bottom is a must-see.
