Belle Isle (Richmond, Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Belle Isle
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People on the rocks of Belle Isle
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | James R. at US 1/301, Richmond, Virginia |
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| Area | 54 acres (22 ha) |
| Architectural style | Industrial Archeology |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000246 |
| Added to NRHP | March 17, 1995 |
Belle Isle is a 54-acre island in Richmond, Virginia. It sits in the James River and is part of the James River Park System. You can get to the island by walking or biking. There's a cool suspension footbridge from the north side. You can also use a wooden bridge from the south side. Sometimes, when the river is low, you can even walk across rocks from the south shore!
From Belle Isle, you can see famous places like Hollywood Cemetery. You can also spot the old Tredegar Iron Works and Richmond's city buildings. The island has many bike trails. There's even a small cliff where people learn to rock climb.
Contents
A Look Back: Belle Isle's Story
Hundreds of years ago, in the 1600s, the land where Richmond is now was home to the Powhatan people. The English explorers first called Belle Isle "Broad Rock Island." John Smith of Jamestown mapped it in 1607.
In the 1700s, people used the island for fishing. Later, in 1814, a company built a nail factory there. By the 1860s, a small village grew on the island. It had a school, a church, and a general store.
Belle Isle During the Civil War
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During the American Civil War, Belle Isle became a prison for Union soldiers. From 1862 to 1865, about 30,000 prisoners were held there. Sadly, up to 1,000 soldiers died on the island. The exact number of deaths is debated. The South said few died, while the North claimed many did.
The Battle of Walkerton happened because Union soldiers tried to free the prisoners. They were not successful.
One prisoner, John L. Ransom, wrote about his time on Belle Isle. He was there in the winter of 1863-1864. He described arriving on the island in November. He said it was a "cold, bleak piece of ground." The prison was just an area surrounded by a ditch. Prisoners were not allowed to go near the ditch.
Ransom wrote that about half of the 6,000 prisoners had tents. The rest had to sleep outside in the cold. He also mentioned the officers and guards. He said some of them were very harsh.
In 1864, a doctor named Peter DeWitt treated prisoners released from Belle Isle. He said most of them were very sick. They were thin, dirty, and had many health problems. Some had even lost their memory. They were so weak they needed constant care.
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President Abraham Lincoln learned about the harsh conditions. He was shocked that Union prisoners were left to freeze and starve. This happened so close to the Confederate capital.
From Power Plant to Park
Between 1904 and 1963, a company built and ran a power plant on the island. Today, this power plant and other old buildings are empty.
The first Lee Bridge was built over the island in 1934. The bridge you see today replaced it in 1988. Belle Isle officially became a park in 1973.
You might have seen the old power plant in a movie! In the 2001 film Hannibal, you can spot it. An agent runs across the bridge on the south side of the island.
Wildlife on Belle Isle
Belle Isle is a great place to see wildlife! It's just a few minutes from the city center. You can often spot Songbirds, ducks, cormorants, and blue herons. Squirrels and other small mammals live there too. You might also see amphibians and reptiles. Some of the trails on the island are part of the East Coast Greenway.
Images for kids
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Herons fishing in the rapids. A view from the northern bank of Belle Isle, across the James River, to the bluffs of Hollywood Cemetery.
