Commemorate 1781 British raid on Richmond with four days of historical events

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond National Battlefield Park and its park partners will host four days of events in Jan. 2025 to commemorate the British raid on Richmond during the Revolutionary War. According to the National Park Service (NPS), Benedict Arnold betrayed revolutionaries and joined the British side of the Revolutionary War in 1780 -- the same year Richmond became Virginia's state capital. In Jan. 1781, he led troops into Richmond for a raid. "Arnold led British and Hessian troops in capturing the town, driving American militia off the hill where the Chimborazo Medical Museum now stands," the NPS said. "The King’s forces occupied the city for 24 hours, destroying supplies. Before the end of the year, many of these troops would be laying down their arms at Yorktown." Every year, Richmond National Battlefield Park holds this Arnold's Raid event to commemorate the raid, as well as highlight the Revolution in Richmond in general. Youngkin proposes keeping state funding from law enforcement if they don’t comply with ICE This event is free and open to the public and, for 2025, it consists of four days of activities running from Jan. 2, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2025. Here's a look at the schedule: Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 Libbie Mill Library, 2100 Libbie Lake East St. 7 p.m. -- Discussion on Virginia women in the Revolution with historian Kate Gruber Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 Clarke-Palmore House, 904 McCoul St. 12 to 5 p.m. -- Militia encampment Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 Chimborazo Medical Museum, 3215 East Broad St. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. -- Re-enactor camps and demonstrations Activities to include cooking demonstrations, rope-making, wool-spinning, colonial toys and games, colonial medicine and more 11 a.m. -- British musket demonstration 12 p.m. -- Children's militia drill activity 1 p.m. -- American musket demonstration 2 p.m. -- British musket demonstration 3 p.m. -- American musket demonstration Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 Chimborazo Medical Museum, 3215 East Broad St. 11 a.m. -- 2-hour, 2-mile walking tour, "History and Preservation in Church Hill" Historic St. John's Church, 2401 East Broad St. 1:30 to 2 p.m. -- Colonial music performance 2 to 3 p.m. -- "Virginia Indians in the Revolution" with Ashley Spivey 3 to 4 p.m. -- Conversation with General Benedict Arnold and Governor Thomas Jefferson For more information, contact park ranger Bert Dunkerly by email at bert_dunkerly@nps.gov or the Historic St. John's Church by phone at 804-648-5015. Additional information can be found on NPS' website or the Historic St. John Church's website.