Birth of a city

This is might first blip (at least in the 365 project) that I specifically sought after. Tonight at work I was witness to both death and birth. I thought it would only be fitting that I head to the place where Richmond was born.

This is the view looking southeast from Libby Hill. At the center of the photo is a bend in the James River. It is widely accepted as fact (though recently a lack of supporting evidence has been brought up by a local developer) that this view is what gave Richmond its name. Apparently in England there is a place called Richmond upon Thames with a very similar bend in the River Thames; hence, the name. To camera right (and out of view) is Shockoe Bottom, where the original settlement was built.

In all actuality, Richmond was birthed from the James River. Explorers traveling inland from the Atlantic Ocean could not safely navigate above the fall line and chose to settle here. A canal system was later built to bypass the rapids, but Richmond remained a major port until quite recently.