Viral Richmond ‘gun hole’ finds new life at the Valentine museum

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The infamous Richmond "gun hole" is back! Well, sort of.

On Thursday, Oct. 16, the Valentine, a museum in Richmond dedicated to preserving the city's history, announced that it will soon be adding several new items to its rotating "This Is Richmond, Virginia" exhibition -- including the Richmond "gun hole," a viral sensation that captivated the River City over a year ago.

The story of the Richmond "gun hole" began in January 2024, when Richmond resident Brock Cass posted a photo of a gun-shaped indent in the sidewalk near his home on X. The caption read, "What if we kissed at the Richmond gun hole?"

This post went viral, gathering over 1.9 million views and bringing the Richmond community together. People flocked to Addison Street between Cary Street and Main Street to visit the gun hole. Some left various "offerings" -- from candy to stickers to tampons -- in or around it, creating a bit of a shrine.

The viral post that started the Richmond "gun hole" craze. (Photo: Brock Cass)

The Richmond "gun hole," filled with and surrounded by "offerings." (Photo: Justice Smith, 8News)

Within days, the hole was filled in by the city -- but that concrete, while still wet, was scooped out, presumably by a gun hole enthusiast.

In its press release on Thursday, the Valentine explained that this defense of the gun hole persisted through multiple attempts from the city to fill it in.

Richmond high school celebrates growing graduation rates

In the end, the city chose to put an end to the gun hole by replacing the entire sidewalk -- and, though it was broken during excavation, the Valentine was able to get its hands on a substantial piece of it.

Piece of the Richmond "gun hole" obtained by the Valentine. (Photo: The Valentine

A photo of the Richmond "gun hole" taken prior to its removal. (Photo: The Valentine)

“The ‘Gun Hole’ captures how Richmonders reinterpret public spaces and create a sense of community—even out of something as ordinary as an imprint in the sidewalk,” said Christina Vida, the Valentine's curator of general collections, in the release. “By putting this on view, we are embracing Richmond’s quirkiness while also preserving an object that speaks to the city’s grittier past.”

That "grittier past" may refer to the rumors circulating about the gun hole's origin. 8News previously spoke to Bill Belville, who claimed the gun hole was created in the 90s to warn one of his tenants against testifying in a criminal case.

The gun hole isn't the only thing being added to this exhibition. Other new items include:

• Shells collected from the James River (2020s) and a 3D-printed James River spinymussel shell, highlighting Indigenous connections to local waterways and ongoing environmental restoration efforts, courtesy of the James River Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
• A Confetti pattern plate (2025) by Natalie Kohlhepp’s Honey Honey Ceramics, representing Richmond’s contemporary makers.
• A hat and mold (ca. 1980) from Ignatius Hats, sharing Richmond’s legacy of artisan craftsmanship.
• An end table (mid-20th century) crafted by Richmond furniture maker Sam Forrest, known for blending form and function in his studio furniture designs.
• NASCAR-themed sneakers (2023) designed by VCU student Jayden Mitchell for Richmond Raceway President Lori Waran.
• A self-portrait (ca. 1907) by Richmond artist Nora Houston, recently donated by the Nora Houston Foundation.
• A 1970 fashion illustration by Sandra R. Kemp, the first African American graduate of VCU’s fashion design program.

"The Valentine routinely rotates objects within 'This Is Richmond, Virginia' to reflect the ongoing stories of its residents -- past, present, and future," the museum said.

PHOTOS: Hanover sergeant rescues starving kitten from street

All of these items will officially go on display on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

For more information on the Valentine -- including ticketing and visiting hours -- visit its website or call 804-649-0711.