Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Loading...
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The 2,653-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail spans the entire West Coast from Canada to Mexico.
Meet the Volunteers Who Keep Thru-Hikers Moving
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House building on the U.S.-Canadian border.
Could New Border Restrictions Literally Tear the Haskell Free Library Apart?
A woman peering into the cave of Sarah Bishop c. 1900.
The Curious History of New England’s Hermit Tourism
The Big Well
This Kansas Town Advertised the World’s Largest Well. It Wasn’t.

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Virginia Richmond Ruins of Belle Isle

Ruins of Belle Isle

A small Richmond island dotted with the remnants of hundreds of years of history.

Richmond, Virginia

Added By
Jake Cryan
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Abandoned Hydroelectric Plant from Early 1900’s   jcryan503 / Atlas Obscura User
Ruins of building from 1700’s   jcryan503 / Atlas Obscura User
  akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Warehouse ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
  akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
  jmrobbo / Atlas Obscura User
  jmrobbo / Atlas Obscura User
  croxrd13 / Atlas Obscura User
  Rural Exploration VA / Atlas Obscura User
  Rural Exploration VA / Atlas Obscura User
  Rural Exploration VA / Atlas Obscura User
  Rural Exploration VA / Atlas Obscura User
  Rural Exploration VA / Atlas Obscura User
  Rural Exploration VA / Atlas Obscura User
  Rural Exploration VA / Atlas Obscura User
  Rural Exploration VA / Atlas Obscura User
  mollycoddling / Atlas Obscura User
Sunset skyline from walking bridge   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Walking bridge   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Belle Isle Marker   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Iron works ruins   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Hydroelectric plant ruins.   akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
  akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
  Lauren D / Atlas Obscura User
  croxrd13 / Atlas Obscura User
  croxrd13 / Atlas Obscura User
  croxrd13 / Atlas Obscura User
A tunnel through the wall leading back to the big ruin buildings   jec006 / Atlas Obscura User
Heron   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
Ruins of   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
Marker   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
  ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
  thesaturdayadventure / Atlas Obscura User
View of the Richmond Skyline from Belle Isle   jcryan503 / Atlas Obscura User
Remains of Old Dominion Iron & Nail Works   jcryan503 / Atlas Obscura User
  AbandonedTraveler / Atlas Obscura User
View of River Rapids   jcryan503 / Atlas Obscura User
  akgraff / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In addition to being a beautiful city park where the outdoors can be enjoyed with a view of the Richmond skyline, Belle Isle is dotted with the remnants of hundreds of years of history. Scattered throughout the island are historic ruins from many eras of the United States.

Originally a Native American settlement site, this small 540-acre island on the James River was at one point explored by the famous John Smith. In the early 1800s a nail factory was built on the island, the ruins of which can be found on the east end of the island, where they are quite hard to miss.

The island is most notoriously known for its role during the Civil War, during which it was a Confederate prison camp. The prison was equipped to house 3,000 Union prisoners, although, based on varying accounts there were over two to three times that amount during certain parts of the war. Thousands of prisoners died while imprisoned on Belle Isle. However, the remains have since been removed. 

There are the remains of an old oil and explosive materials storehouse, as well as an abandoned hydroelectric plant from the early 1900s on the south side of the island, with a beautiful view of the river rapids below. Consider heading to the west side of the island to take in the expansive view of the James River and be sure to look across the water to see the multiple dams as well as the massive Hollywood Cemetery on top of the hills. 

Related Tags

Ruins Islands History

Know Before You Go

Even getting to the island is an adventure. It is accessible by a pedestrian and cycling bridge on the north side that runs directly underneath the Robert E. Lee Bridge, and from the south side by crossing the bridge below the park access at 22nd Street or simply by jumping across the river rocks along the south bank. The easiest way to access Belle Isle is by parking in the free parking lot off of Tredegar Street, just north of the island.

Community Contributors

Added By

jcryan503

Edited By

Quorum, Lauren D, ski queen, thesaturdayadventure...

  • Quorum
  • Lauren D
  • ski queen
  • thesaturdayadventure
  • akgraff
  • jmrobbo
  • croxrd13
  • jec006
  • blimpcaptain
  • Rural Exploration VA
  • mollycoddling
  • AbandonedTraveler

Published

February 15, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.richmondoutside.com/destination/belle-isle-jrps/
  • https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/richmond/belleisle.html
  • http://www.jamesriverpark.org/visit-the-park/getting-there.php
  • https://www.richmondoutside.com/destination/belle-isle-jrps/
Ruins of Belle Isle
300 Tredegar St
Richmond, Virginia
United States
37.534245, -77.449573
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Hollywood Cemetery

Richmond, Virginia

miles away

The Grave of Oderus Urungus

Richmond, Virginia

miles away

Jefferson Hotel Gators

Richmond, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Richmond

Richmond

Virginia

Places 19
Stories 4

Nearby Places

Hollywood Cemetery

Richmond, Virginia

miles away

The Grave of Oderus Urungus

Richmond, Virginia

miles away

Jefferson Hotel Gators

Richmond, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Richmond

Richmond

Virginia

Places 19
Stories 4

Related Places

  • View from Above; a more recent concrete construction can be seen nearby

    Green Island, Taiwan

    Youzihu

    The ruins of a prehistoric village hide on a remote Taiwanese island.

  • A panorama view of the island with Greek inspired ornaments.

    Nasugbu, Philippines

    Fortune Island

    This Philippine island is dotted with (fake) Grecian ruins.

  • Bellite Factory Ruins.

    Cornaa, Isle of Man

    Bellite Factory Ruins

    The ruins of an unfinished explosives factory can be found while taking a gentle stroll through a Manx glen.

  • Comunidad Challapampa, Bolivia

    Chincana Ruins

    Mysterious Incan ruins on a tiny island in Lake Titicaca.

  • Historical Fortress of Izena Castle.

    Izena-son, Japan

    Izena Island

    Ruins and statues dot the landscape of this tiny island rich with royal history.

  • The island is sometimes accessible on foot at low tide.

    Kamakura, Japan

    Wakae Island Ruins

    The ruins of the oldest artificial island in Japan, still used for mooring today at 800 years old.

  • Bottom of the visiting gallery showing the cross-section of the qanat after the fault. The metal structure symbolises the location of the P5 and the gallery digging into the stone.

    Walferdange, Luxembourg

    Raschpëtzer Qanat

    A Roman water tunnel still flows 2,000 years on.

  • Wormsloe Historic Site tree canopy.

    Savannah, Georgia

    Wormsloe State Historic Site

    The tabby ruin is Savannah’s oldest surviving structure.

    Sponsored by Visit Savannah
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.