Name: 2026 Lincoln Prize Lecture
Start: 2026-10-15
End: 2026-10-15

The Richmond National Battlefield Park commemorates 13 American Civil War sites around Richmond, Virginia, which served as the capital of the Confederate States of America for most of the war. The park connects certain features within the city with defensive fortifications and battle sites around it.

Richmond National Battlefield Park's Civil War Visitor Center

Your home for outdoor music on the historic riverfront.

Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront

A morning spot to grab coffee, an easygoing lunch destination, a happy hour hangout with river views, and the only eatery offering snacks and sips within sight of the recently debuted Allianz Amphitheater.

Daisy's at Tredegar

The mission of the American Civil War Museum is to be the preeminent center for the exploration of the American Civil War and its legacies from multiple perspectives: Union and Confederate, enslaved and free African Americans, soldiers and civilians. ACWM offers Central Virginia residents, students and visitors a more equitable and complete understanding of the complex history of the Civil War. These lessons are highly relevant today. To accomplish this, ACWM provides a comprehensive educational experience at three museum sites and out in the community which includes exhibits, tours, distance learning, living history, classroom education, lectures and symposia, collection resources, a digital manuscript collection, and presentations.

American Civil War Museum

The Virginia War Memorial overlooks the beautiful James River, boasting one of the best views of the downtown skyline. A visit to the Memorial can include time remembering the fallen in the Shrine of Memory, learning first-hand about those who served by watching any one of our twenty-five documentary films, or touring the exhibit halls with one of our docents, many of whom are veterans themselves. A large outdoor amphitheater overlooking the James River is the perfect venue for concerts and ceremonies. Dedicated in 1956, the Memorial includes the names of the nearly 12,000 Virginia heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, Korea, the Persian Gulf and the Global War on Terrorism. The Virginia War Memorial is and will always be the Commonwealth's tribute to those who served and most especially, to those who died defending our freedoms. Major Exhibits Virginians in the Normandy Invasion is our newest exhibit that commemorates the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, which opened on June 6th. The exhibit highlights the 147 Virginians killed in the invasion of Normandy and features the Memorial’s collection of artifacts and archival materials relating to D-Day, as well as recorded interviews from our database of Oral Histories with Virginians who were there to witness the landings. Virginia’s Missing in Action: The Search Continues will open on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, in September of 2025. This exhibit will highlight the approximately 1,200 Virginians still listed as Missing in Action and the continuing mission to try to identify them and bring them home. Most of us have experienced the loss of a loved one. But for the families of those who have never been found, the prolonged grief and uncertainty amplify the already unbearable hurt. This exhibit will feature photos, letters, and other archival materials related to those Virginians still Missing in Action, as well as detailed biographies of select individuals. Additionally, the exhibit will explore the scientific process behind searching for and recovering the remains of those individuals by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Select interviews by family members, friends, fellow service members, and those involved in the search for remains will be featured as part of the exhibit. Location: 621 South Belvidere Street, Richmond, VA 23220. Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday 12 noon to 4 p.m. Closed for the following holidays: Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Admission: The Virginia War Memorial grounds and exhibits are FREE to the public unless noted. Parking: Parking is FREE to Virginia War Memorial guests. During normal visiting hours guests can access outdoor parking from both Rowe St. and South 1st Street.

Virginia War Memorial

The T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge, also known as the VEPCO Levee Dam, and formerly the Brown's Island Dam Walk, crosses the James River in Richmond, Virginia connecting Brown's Island to the James River Park System on the Manchester side of the river.

T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge

BROWN'S ISLAND IS CLOSED FOR RENOVATION UNTIL OCTOBER 2026.  
Brown’s Island is an amazing, six-acre riverfront park located south of Tredegar Street between 5th Street and 12th Street on the James River. It was formed by the Haxall Canal and is part of the 1.25-mile riverfront Canal Walk. The Island connects to the James River Park System and is a very popular venue for outdoor concerts and festivals including the Friday Cheers concert series, Dominion Riverrock, and the Richmond Folk Festival. It is a favorite walking, running and biking area for locals and visitors alike. There are historical exhibits, public art and plenty of nature to explore. Discover the April 1865 exhibit that hangs over the James River and connects to the Potterfield Bridge, a popular biking and walking destination. Look for eagles, blue heron, osprey and more. Rent a mountain paddleboard during summer months from WaterfrontRVA! Head east along the paths towards 10th, 12th and 14th streets and you'll find over 75 restaurants in the Shockoe area and some unique shopping. Riverside Outfitters is rents mountain bikes, kayaks and paddleboards from 14th Street at the Mayo Bridge. There are great mountain bike trails on Belle Isle and along both sides of the river, as well as a bike skills course on the isle. Hit the streets and explore downtown on a bike as well! Paddling on the river is a wonderful way to experience the natural environment and nature in the middle of RVA’s downtown. There are some beautiful flatwater areas of the James for paddlers to cruise.

Brown's Island

The Richmond Ballet was founded in 1957 by local dance enthusiasts as a performance outlet for students in local dance programs. In 1984, Richmond Ballet became the first professional Ballet company in Virginia and was designated the State Ballet of Virginia in 1990, by then Governor Wilder. Richmond Ballet’s mission is to awaken and uplift the human spirit, both for audiences and artists… It is dedicated to the promotion, preservation and continuing evolution of the art form of ballet. Richmond Ballet strives to keep meaningful works of dance alive and to produce and foster new works that remain true to these values. Please visit: richmondballet.com for more details!

Richmond Ballet

Located in the beautiful River District and conveniently located in the heart of downtown, the Delta Hotel by Marriott offers a spectacular view of the James River. It's close proximity to both business and leisure elements of Richmond's offerings makes it an ideal destination.

Delta Hotels Richmond Downtown

Richmond Boys Choir

We’re a community of runners, hikers, bikers and ballplayers. We’re an outdoor playground, designed by Mother Nature, with class III and IV rapids running right through our downtown. A 52-mile bike trail runs along the James. The Richmond Marathon and Ukrop’s 10k are huge celebrations, and the whole region comes out to cheer on our local teams. In fact, we’re so sports-minded that the Washington Redskins have their training camp right in the center of the city. Add to that awesome hotels, beautiful venues, attractions, art, craft beer, more than 900 restaurants and a convenient location, and you’ve got a top choice for your next sports event. Welcome to RVA!

From indoor to outdoor facilities, the Richmond region has the fields, pitches, diamonds, venues and the dedicated staff to ensure your event is a huge success. 



Sports Richmond, VA

The American Civil War Museum is pleased to announce the Annual Lincoln Prize Lecture will be held at the Tredegar site in Richmond, Virginia on October 15th, 2026.  
  
This event is in partnership with Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History. Our partnership with Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is reflective of our continuing commitment to engage in national conversations about the Civil War by presenting the most respected authorities in the field of research and scholarship.  
  
The Gilder Lehrman annual Lincoln Prize award is given to the finest scholarly work in English on Abraham Lincoln, the American Civil War soldier, or the American Civil War era. This year’s recipient is Dr. Richard Carwardine, Distinguished Fellow of the Rothermere American Institute at Oxford, for his book "Righteous Strife: How Warring Religious Nationalists Forged Lincoln’s Union."  
  
A two-time recipient of the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize, Dr. Carwardine is a Welsh-born historian of the United States. He spent over thirty years in the Department of History at Sheffield University before taking up the Rhodes Professorship of American History at Oxford in 2002. He was elected President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford in 2009 and navigated the College towards the 500th anniversary of its founding. He received his first Lincoln Prize in 2004 for his book "Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power."  
  
The ACWM Lincoln Prize Lecture includes a reception with Dr. Carwardine followed by the lecture and book signing in the Museum.

2026 Lincoln Prize Lecture

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