Stranica 134 [134]
VALENIINE 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. Wickham 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
-.inyiting 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 Jreasury of the Confederate States, resided here.
More recently it was the home of Mr. Mann 5. 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
[81]