siege museum

Fantastic building is a US Historic Landmark, a symbol of pride built in the city's heyday. As a museum it tells the story of wars effect on its citizens Negligence for many years is a black mark on city officials. If renovated this museum would rate excellent, especially if it continues to tell the real history. I was told that General Thomas's wagon is about to be removed permanently, this is difficult to believe and very foolish if true.

The Siege Museum is quite good, and small. The artifacts and photos of life in Petersburg during the 10 month siege of the city by Gen. Grant in 1864 are well displayed and explained. If you have never seen a pleating iron, there is one there.

The staff was friendly and accommodating, inviting us to wander around the first floor to view an interesting collection of pictures by renowned Civil War photographer Mathew Brady. We were soon escorted to the second floor for a film presentation explaining the Siege of Petersburg and it's importance in the Civil War, narrated by local-turned-actor Joseph Cotton.

The Siege Museum gave a good overview of life in Petersburg during the over 9 month siege of the city by Grant's forces and the Battle of Petersburg. Museum staff gave great information and explanation about the exhibits, the history of the siege, and the building itself. This museum is free to active duty military and dependents with an ID; definitely worth the visit!

This museum gives insight into the long battle to take the supply lines (trains) out of commission for the South.

We stopped in after lunch at LongStreet's and was pleasantly surprised by the number of artifacts. The curator was very informative and we enjoyed our 1.5 hr visit. We could've stayed longer or finished sooner but timing was about right.

This is a great museum for getting a perspective on the civilian side of the Siege. Visit after the battlefield and you'll learn the other side...the privations, the spying...the starvation. Vary friendly and informative staff. Good short movie to introduce the Siege. the museum is right downtown, so it's easy to visit. Get the economical multi-ticket that includes Blandford, this museum and one other.

Very interesting to find out what took place in the City. Excellent exhibits but the film does need updating.

This museum is very good in helping one to understand what it must have been like for the residents of Petersburg during the last days of the Civil War. I have read a lot of Civil War novels but none really struck me like the reality that is brought out in the Siege Museum.

The two most famous persons to come out of Petersburg, Virginia, probably are actor Joseph Cotten and basketball star Moses Malone. Cotten loved his hometown so much that he offered to narrate a documentary on the history of Petersburg that the Siege Museum has presented ever since the film was made in 1976. Cotten, whose numerous film credits from 1938 to 1981 included Citizen Kane, Magnificent Ambersons, Third Man, Portrait of Jennie, Gaslight, Duel in the Sun and Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte, died in 1994 and is buried in Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg. He was 88. But his film narrative is timeless. As a boy, he recalled swimming in the Appomattox River and playing in the fields where the Union Army besieged Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia for 10 months. The Siege Museum chronicles the history of Petersburg during the Civil War, how the townspeople survived the siege, how the town became one of the leading railroad and industrial centers in the South, the role of women in the siege and how blacks became involved in the military. The museum is housed in the Exchange Building in downtown Petersburg, which was erected in 1839 as a commodities market. Nearby is the farmers market and the South Side Railroad Depot and the Old Town visitor's center, which is well equipped to help tourists to find all of the historical sites in the area. In the museum, there are many artifacts and photographs and very interesting exhibits dating to the time of siege in 1865. One of the most interesting pieces of literature we picked up at the visitor's center was a comprehensive pamphlet detailing a walking tour for the underground railroad that was established in Petersburg. Starting at the visitor's center, the route follows about 10 city blocks and takes about 30 minutes to negotiate.

The local museum is small in size, but volunteers working there tell the stories of their ancestors living during the Civil War and Civil Rights movement, well make it worth the visit.

The museum tells the story of the 10 month siege of the city by Union forces. Importantly it also describes the effects on and the involvement of the civilian population.There is also an excellent display on the involvement of black people in the military from the time of the Revolution to the present day.We visited as part of the triple ticket available from the Visitor Centre.

The museum chronicles the history of Petersburg during the Civil War era. It is easy to find in the town and the Guides are knowledgable. The tour starts with a short movie about the Siege of Petersburg. It was all very interesting. Made me realise what the common everyday people living there at the time if the War went through, quite moving. Definitely worth visiting.

compared to some of the other civil war museums in the Richmond/Tri Cities area this one is small, but should not be missed. informative displays, knowledgeable staff. could use some extra donations to fix some issues with the faciltiy, but don't let that stop you from visiting. nice gift shop/visitoirs center as well, lots of history in the building and area!!

It has several floors but a lift is available. We were shown a film first which gives a good insight then you tour the museum. We were self guided but a guide was on hand for any questions we needed answers to. We visited this museum using the 3 museum pass from the visitors centre. They supplied a map of Petereburg making everything easy to find. The visitors centre is easily signposted and walking the town is relatively easy if you are able bodied.