Historical researcher Elvatrice Belsches is continually amazed at the accomplishments of some of the Richmond area's African-American pioneers.

"The depth and breadth of the legacies of African-Americans in Richmond is infinite and immeasurable," she said. "Whether we are examining the history of medicine, law, religion, education, architecture, politics or military service, the contributions of African-Americans are integral and noteworthy."

Belsches began researching information on African-American businesses in Jackson Ward eight years ago when she was working on a documentary for American Legacy Television.

When she was commissioned to write the Richmond section of the "Black America Series" the next year, "the floodgates opened," she said. The publication is carried in more than 26 libraries around the country in addition to museum bookstores.

Belsches gathers her information from primary resources such as vital statistics records and personal interviews.

"Sitting at the feet of the elders to conduct oral history interviews has been the most invaluable and rewarding part of my journey," she said.

A pharmacist, Belsches is now focusing on the medical accomplishments of African-Americans as part of her research for the African American National Biography, an eight-volume reference book.

"To have been a multiple contributor to the most authoritative reference ever published in African-American studies is exhilarating," Belsches said. "I am most humbled by the fact that I was blessed to bring forth new and corrective scholarship on Richmond's own Dr. Sarah Jones, Miss Virginia Randolph and Dr. David A. Ferguson."

Dr. Sarah Jones was the first black person and first woman certified to practice medicine by the Virginia State Board of Medicine. Virginia Randolph was a pioneer in education, known for her hands-on approach to learning. Dr. David Ferguson was the first black dentist certified by the Virginia State Board of Dental Examiners.

To learn more about African-American history in Richmond, contact Belsches at belschese@prodigy.net or explore one of the locations or museums in this partial listing of African-American sites of interest in the Richmond area.

Ashland Visitor's Center 112 N. Railroad Ave., Ashland

The Ashland Visitor's Center offers a self-guided walking tour of Ashland that includes the African-American Shiloh Baptist Church and a Sears home owned by a local African-American educator. (800) 897-1479.

Arthur Ashe Statue Corner of Roseneath Road and Monument Ave.

This statue, dedicated in 1996, recognizes the Richmond native and international humanitarian and tennis champion.

The Barton Heights Cemeteries St. James Street and Lamb Ave.

Established by the Burying Ground Society of the Free People of Color, the cemetery became known as Cedarwood.

Five additional cemeteries established by the Burial Society and other religious organizations eventually adjoined Cedarwood.

Today, they are collectively known as the Barton Heights Cemeteries and are on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

Bill "Bojangles" Robinson Statue Chamberlayne Parkway and Leigh Street

Richmond native and famous dancer/actor born in 1878, who transformed tap dancing. He performed in vaudeville and on Broadway, and danced with child actress Shirley Temple in "The Little Colonel."

Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia 00 Clay St., Richmond

The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia collects and exhibits artifacts and objects that illustrate the history of black people, with an emphasis on Virginians. A new exhibition, "The Gift of Black Inventors," is on display through July 31.

With more than 125 items, the exhibition features various inventors and their inventions, including Sarah Boone and her 1892 patent for the ironing board, Winston Wesley Cavell and his spotter-tracer projectile patented in 1961, and Lonnie Johnson's 'Super Soaker' patented in 1991.

The exhibition also highlights Virginia native Jo Anderson, acknowledged as co-inventor of the reaper by International Harvester on the 100th anniversary of the invention. A special section is devoted to African-American astronauts. 780-9093.

Elegba Folklore Society's Cultural Center 101 E. Broad St., Richmond

The Cultural Center carries African art and artifacts from around the world. Merchandise includes books and wearable art, as well as African fabrics, music and handmade jewelry.

The center also houses a research library and holds classes in African dance and music, crafts and Afrikana-Robics (exercise). 644-3900.

First Baptist Church of South Richmond 1501 Decatur St., Richmond

This is Richmond's oldest independent black church, organized in 1821. 233-7679.

Library of Virginia 800 E. Broad St., Richmond

During February, the library will make available its "Notable Americans in Virginia History" educational resources.

The project provides online information about the remarkable people whose lives appear in the Library of Virginia's Dictionary of Virginia Biography, including eight notable African-Americans.

This annual program is a continuation of the 2007 program "African-American Trailblazers." 692-3500.

Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site 600 N. Second St.

Run by the National Park Service, the site is located in the Jackson Ward community and includes the home of the nation's first female bank president.

Walker moved to 110 ½ E. Leigh St. in 1905. Visitors are directed to the Visitor Center for a short film and exhibits before touring the home. 771-2017.

Maymont House Museum 1700 Hampton St., Richmond

The museum's new permanent exhibition, "In Service and Beyond: Domestic Work and Life in a Gilded Age Mansion," explores the world of domestic workers employed by James and Sallie Dooley from 1893 to 1925.

The basement exhibition tells the story of the individuals who knew Maymont as a workplace and reveals how two worlds converged under one roof through the dynamic interplay between server and served, working class and upper class, black and white. 358-7166.

Meadow Farm Museum 3400 Mountain Road, Glen Allen

Meadow Farm is an 1860 living-history farm site and museum with costumed interpreters. Slaves working for Mosby Sheppard, the farm's owner, warned him of a proposed slave rebellion in 1800. 501-5520.

Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church 14 W. Duval St.

The church was organized in 1867 by well-known African-American preacher the Rev. John Jasper. The church moved to Jackson Ward in 1869.

The John Jasper Memorial Room contains historical information and artifacts from the church's founder. Contact the church historian for special tours. 648-7511.

The Slave Trail Ancarrow's Landing 1308 Bander St.

Many slaves walked this trail upon their arrival at the Manchester Docks in Richmond. The same route also took slaves sold from Lumpkin's Jail and other establishments during the antebellum years to the docks to be exported.

The walk, which begins at Ancarrow's Landing, is 1.3 miles. Guided walks on the Slave Trail are offered by Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community every Saturday morning in February. Call 646-6446 to register.

Spring Park Lakeside and Park avenues

Take a self-guided tour of the oldest park in Henrico County, near the site where Gabriel, a slave of Thomas Prosser, organized the 1800 slave rebellion.

Valentine Richmond History Center 1015 E. Clay St.

The center's permanent exhibition, "Settlement to Streetcar Suburbs: Richmond and Its People," chronicles Richmond's evolution from a society based on agriculture and slave labor to an industrial, commercial and financial center. Temporary exhibitions include:

"Tell Me Where You're Marching, Tell Me Where You're Bound" (Stern Gallery) with present-day images of former slave trade sites, through Aug. 31; "Battle for the City: Richmond Politics, 1950s-1970s" (Massey Gallery) examines Richmond's struggle for civil rights and school integration, as well as the impact of national and local planning on the neighborhoods and streets of the city, April 4 through Jan. 2009. 649-0711, www.richmondhistorycenter.com

The center will host a bus tour, "African-American Heritage," Feb. 16, 1 to 4 p.m. The tour includes a trip through historic Jackson Ward, frequently referred to as "The Black Wall Street of America," and a visit to the Maggie Walker Historic Site.

Virginia Historical Society 428 N. Boulevard

The society's "Sites and Stories: African-American History in Virginia" exhibition details stories about people and events related to African-American historical sites listed in the Department of Historic Resource's Guidebook to Virginia's Historical Markers (2007).

Photographs and objects illustrate more than 20 stories from across the commonwealth. 358-4901, www.vahistorical.org.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 200 N. Boulevard

The VMFA has a large African art collection, with more than 300 works spanning more than 2,000 years. Currently, the collection is in storage as the museum continues its expansion. The exhibition will be on display when the museum reopens in fall 2009.

The museum recently acquired a Kehinde Wiley painting, "Willem van Heythusen (after Frans Hals)," which is now on display. Wiley is an African American who is emerging in the forefront of today's American artists.

The museum also is home to Friends of African and African-American Art, which supports the museum's mission through adult and children's educational programs, acquisitions and social events. vmfa.state.va.us; 340-1400

Virginia Randolph Museum 2200 Mountain Road Glen Allen

The museum, housed in the Virginia Randolph Home Economics Cottage, pays homage to Virginia Estelle Randolph, a pioneer and leader in education.

The collection includes personal possessions and photographs. The museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is operated by Henrico County Public Schools.

Virginia Union University 1500 N. Lombardy St.

Founded in 1865, Virginia Union University is among the nation's oldest historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

The university's library is named after the university's most celebrated alumnus Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, the first elected African-American governor (1990-1994) in the nation. There are more than 160,000 volumes in the library collection. 257-5600, www.vuu.edu/library/home.htm.

The Archives and Special Collections, in addition to preserving campus historical records, endeavors to collect the African-American history of Richmond.

Special collections holds rare books and unique materials on the African-American experience, such as sheet music of songs on African-American stereotypes and musicians, African-American children's books, photographs and manuscripts.

The Wilder Gallery contains memorabilia of the former governor. The library also houses the Virginia Union University Museum, which features galleries of African Art, Oceanic Art and African-American Folk Art. 257-5660.

. . .

Petersburg

Petersburg offers two self-guided tours of historic African-American sites. The first is a combined driving and walking tour. The second is a walking tour titled "The Underground Railroad and The Struggle for Freedom."

Brochures for both tours are available at the Petersburg Visitor's Center, 425 Cockade Alley. (800) 368-3595.

The Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail is a self-guided driving tour through Southside Virginia. The trail includes 41 sites with detailed interpretation and photos. A map and brochure of the trail is available at www.varetreat.com. (800) 673-8732.

Pocahontas Island On the banks of the Appomattox River, near Petersburg

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Pocahontas Island is known as the oldest black community in America. Technically a peninsula, it was home to many freed slaves in the earlyto mid-1800s.

The Stewart-Pocahontas Museum is located at 224 Witten St. on Pocahontas Island.

Siege Museum 15 W. Bank St., Petersburg

The exhibition "African-Americans in the Military: The Petersburg Perspective" will run through August.

The exhibition traces the history of African-Americans' military participation from the Revolutionary War through the present, highlighting contributions made by Petersburg residents. www.petersburg-va.org; (804) 733-2402