Robert E. Lee Monument (Richmond, Virginia)

Park Former Confederate monument and controversial public memorial site

A Confederate‑era monument on Richmond’s Monument Avenue, the Robert E. Lee Monument was a focal point for sculpture, Monument Avenue architecture, and public debate over Civil War memory.

Main image

The Robert E. Lee Monument on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia, was a large Confederate-era equestrian statue and memorial originally installed in the late 19th century.

For decades it was one of several monuments on Monument Avenue that commemorated Confederate leaders; the statue served as a prominent urban landmark and focal point for public debate about memory and monuments.

The monument was erected in the post-Civil War era by organizations and donors active at the time; amid renewed national protests over Confederate symbols, the city of Richmond removed the Lee statue in 2021 and the site has since been managed and reconsidered for new public uses.

The former monument site sits on Monument Avenue in Richmond’s historic boulevard district and remains a visible part of the city’s urban fabric as officials and the public determine longer-term plans.

  • Removal and current status: The bronze equestrian statue was removed in 2021 as part of a city-led program to take down Confederate monuments, leaving the site subject to redesign and new uses.
Robert E. Lee Monument (Richmond, Virginia)
Monument Avenue area, Richmond, Virginia (Lee statue formerly at Monument Avenue)
37.5540, -77.4603
Monument Avenue public rights-of-way open daily
Free to view public spaces (statue removed as of 2021); museum and interpretive fees vary

How to Get to Robert E. Lee Monument (Richmond, Virginia) #

Monument Avenue is a short drive or transit ride from downtown Richmond. Streetcar and bus routes serve the area; on foot it is a 10-20 minute walk from the Fan district and related museum corridors.

Tips for Visiting Robert E. Lee Monument (Richmond, Virginia) #

  • Check local updates before visiting - the Monument Avenue landscape has been changing; guided interpretations may be available from Richmond cultural organizations.
  • Be respectful of ongoing memorial debates and spaces where removal and reinterpretation have occurred.

Best Time to Visit Robert E. Lee Monument (Richmond, Virginia) #

Spring and fall offer the best walking weather; check local cultural calendars for events and guided walks.

Spring-Fall
April-October · 10-27°C (50-80°F)
Pleasant weather for walking Monument Avenue and nearby museums.
Winter
November-March · -5-10°C (23-50°F)
Quieter streets and fewer tourists; some outdoor interpretation may be limited.

Weather & Climate near Robert E. Lee Monument (Richmond, Virginia) #

Climate

Robert E. Lee Monument (Richmond, Virginia)'s climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -3°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1099 mm/year), wettest in August, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
32°
Warmest Month
-3°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 8°C and lows of -3°C. Regular rainfall (90 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-3°

Weather

90 mm
Rainfall
2.4 m/s
Wind
Calm

February

February is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-1° 11°

Weather

80 mm
Rainfall
2.5 m/s
Wind
Calm

March

March is cold with highs of 16°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (98 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
16°

Weather

98 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm

April

April is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm).

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
22°

Weather

79 mm
Rainfall
2.7 m/s
Wind
Calm

May

May is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 13°C. Significant rainfall (102 mm).

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
13° 26°

Weather

102 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm

June

June is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm).

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
18° 30°

Weather

87 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm).

Comfort

26°
Feels Like Warm
26°C
Temperature
20° 32°

Weather

105 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm

August

August is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (106 mm).

Comfort

25°
Feels Like Warm
25°C
Temperature
19° 31°

Weather

106 mm
Rainfall
1.7 m/s
Wind
Calm

September

September is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm).

Comfort

22°
Feels Like Mild
22°C
Temperature
16° 28°

Weather

96 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm

October

October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm).

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
22°

Weather

89 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm

November

November is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm).

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cool
10°C
Temperature
17°

Weather

84 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm

December

December is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-1° 11°

Weather

83 mm
Rainfall
2.2 m/s
Wind
Calm

Nearby Attractions to Robert E. Lee Monument (Richmond, Virginia)