Who can resist a stroll around Brown’s Island, where visitors are surrounded not only by the James River, but also the past, present and future. Originally formed as part of the Haxall Canal in 1789, Brown’s Island is named after its first settler, Elijah Brown, who acquired the land in 1826. During the Civil War, it was home to the Confederate States Laboratory where women and children produced ammunition and other military supplies. Today, Brown’s Island is managed and maintained by Venture Richmond and offers 6 acres of riverfront with access to the James River.
