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"In 1607 at the fall line of the James River where navigable waters end, the first English settlers set foot on land later christened Rocketts Landing. As a British-occupied territory during the Revolutionary War, a booming international seaport throughout the 1800’s, the principal Confederate Naval Shipyard and home to the power plant for the nation’s first electric streetcar system, this land has been an integral part of America’s heritage." From CMSS Architects. "Rocketts Landing, East Main Street near Orleans - Ocean-going ships once docked here just below the James River falls, but commerce effectively was shut off by Union blockade in 1862. The Confederate Navy Yard also operated at the site, turning out ironclad warships." from The Civil War Traveler
Rocketts Landing as it was known was beside the Confederate Naval facility .
There was a Confederate Naval Yard immediately across on the South Side of the
James River. (Richmond CSA Shipyard (1862 - 1865), Richmond
A Confederate Naval Shipyard located at Rocketts Landing.) What is known as Fulton Hill and Fulton Bottom is the area immediately behind Rocketts Landing. Rocketts Landing is presently comprised of turn of the century factory buildings... but little else remains. Most of what was before the Civil War... has been gutted by floods and reclaimed by nature. Of the period photos of it at the end of the war taken from the nearby Chimborazo Hill... of the structures and facilities associated with the Naval Yard none of those remain. There is a really good modern Civil War print called "Richmond by Moonlight, 1863" by William McGrath.
"RICHMOND BY MOONLIGHT" Rocketts Landing and the Confederate Navy Yard Across the James
One reason there arent many photos of Rocketts Landing is that before and during the war it was commonly known as quite a rowdy place that many of the worker class of Richmonders took up unofficial residence in. Some referred to it as a shanty town, so few permanent structures were built there. City leaders had discussed several times trying to dispurse the people living there due to the many problems. The area wasn't photogenic nor safe during much of that time, thus few photos were taken. The following is from www.historicrichmond.com:
There is controversy regarding the development of Rocketts Landing by a for-profit organization: C.H.G
Developers, Inc. Rocketts Landing is considered a brownfield area by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. See the following link: http://dls.state.va.us/GROUPS/HousingCommission/Meetings/two/102804/DEQ.pdf "A brownfield is an abandoned, idled, or underutilized industrial or commercial property where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination ." The site was found to have high levels of lead in the waters near and around Rocketts Landing from a battery dump site: http://www.deq.state.va.us/wqa/pdf/2004ir/irch69y04.pdf The site apparently will be cleaned up parcel by parcel according to a plan based on the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2001: http://www.baconsrebellion.com/Issues/12-09-02/Chicken_salad.htm There are also political overtones about the Lincoln Statue to be located there with grassroots opposition to association of a Northerner, Abraham Lincoln, to the historic site of the Southern Confederacy. The Virginia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans has the following post entitled "Lincoln Statue Scam": http://lincolnstatuescam2.bravepages.com/ Here is an account from an observer of Lincoln's visit to Richmond. The first hand report reprinted from a newspaper describes also the burning of Richmond by Confederates as they leave. http://www.mdgorman.com/Written%20Accounts/National_Tribune/national_tribune,_10_4_1900.htm CITY VISITED BY PRESIDENT LINCOLN. On the afternoon of the following day, April 4, President Lincoln arrived in the city; coming up the river from Petersburg, the vessel he was on encountered many obstructions in the river, just below Richmond, in the shape of the sunken ironclads and other craft. It was the first and only opportunity that I ever had of seeing Abraham Lincoln, whose tragic death at the hands of an assassin only 10 days subsequent gave him the title of "the martyr President." When I saw him he was on foot, leading little "Tad" by the hand, on his way from Rocketts Landing to the Jeff. Davis Mansion, which was then the headquarters of Gen. Weitzel A National salute was fired in his honor, and the most enthusiastic cheering took place. The "contraband," of which there were a large number in the city, exhibited the wildest excitement, bursting into all sorts of characteristic ejaculations, throwing up their hands and dancing about, as if the Savior of mankind Himself had made his second advent on earth. Such expressions as "God bress massa Lincum!" "De dear old man!" etc., were upon every colored lip. Even some of the young ladies of the city caught the general spirit of enthusiasm and were observed to wave their 'kerchiefs as the President passed along. After remaining awhile at headquarters he proceeded to the Capitol, followed by the same excited crowd of admirers. Here, as he ascended the steps, while the Star Spangled Banner was waving gaily above the roof, was presented a scene which artists and newspaper correspondents might well portray in colors and in language befitting the glorious nature of the event.
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