Petersburg, Virginia (population 33,740), was the site of battles during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. In 1781, the Battle of Petersburg was part of a British attempt to regain control of Virginia.
A little over 80 years later, the city suffered the longest siege in American warfare and was the site of the disastrous Battle of the Crater, where Union troops attempted to tunnel under Confederate lines.
Petersburg has historic properties from three centuries, located in seven locally designated historic districts and six districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The city owns or administers five historic museums known as the Petersburg Museums.
Recently, the city has partnered with the Petersburg Garden Club to plan the rehabilitation of Lee Memorial Park, with resources and landscapes that were created in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration.
To promote heritage tourism, the city participates in the regional tourism effort called Civil War Central and supports the Virginia Civil War Trail Initiative. Reflecting the fact that African Americans have traditionally made up at least half of the city’s population, the city also has developed a guide to African-American historic sites.
Designated a Preserve America Community in August 2004.