VALENTINE MUSEUM 



N old Clay Street, in Richmond, there still remain 

 many beautiful houses, reminiscent of the promi- 

 nent families who played their part in the life of 

 the city in the early years of the nineteenth cen- 

 tury. At the far end, on a hill-top, overlooking 

 Shockoe Valley, is the White House of the Con- 

 federacy with its majestic and imposing columns. As the Con- 

 federate Museum, it harbors today invaluable records and relics 

 of the times of its palmy days. 



Just one block above is the Valentine Museum, built by the 

 gifted architect, Robert Mills, in 1812 for John Wickham, Esq., 

 who was the leading counsel in the defense of Aaron Burr in 1807. 

 It is said that it was largely through his eloquence that Burr was 

 acquitted. Chief Justice Marshall and Aaron Burr dined to- 

 gether with Mr. V^ickham at his home. The Chief Justice was 

 very much criticized for this by the opponents of Burr and he 

 replied to them, saying if Mr. Wickham did him the honor of 

 inviting him to dine at his home, he could but do him the courtesy 

 of accepting. 



- During the Civil War the Honorable C. G. Memminger, Secre- 

 tary of the Treasury of the Confederate States, resided here. 

 More recently it was the home of Mr. Mann S. Valentine, who 

 founded the Museum, and through whose bounty and love for the 

 beautiful, this Treasure House has been preserved for the people 

 of Richmond. 



From the street the house presents a plain and dignified, but 

 imposing, appearance, with its thick brick stuccoed walls, and a 

 square porch with rounded columns and broad steps leading from 

 the street. But it is not until after we have sounded the knocker 

 and passed through the vestibule into the most beautiful circular 



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