Locals and visitors alike are aware that Richmond is a popular destination for American history enthusiasts. Racing fans flock towards the area each to take big events in the Richmond International Speedway, and various summer concerts and festivals keep everybody entertained. For hobbyists considering letterboxing, Richmond is rich with several the opportunity to add timeless souvenirs for your collection, and memories to treasure.

A Brief Letterboxing Primer

For the advantages of readers new to this centuries-old practice of “treasure hunting,” letterboxing is analogous to the “geocaching” trend gathering popularity among GPS users. Letterboxing have their own origins in the mid 1800s in England, where secret boxes storing letters as well as other communications were happened upon or hunted. Visitors would leave something in exchange. In recent years, enthusiasts will hide letterboxes (usually a plastic, sealed container) containing imprints along with a guestbook in various places outdoors, and hunters uses the stamp for his or her own notebooks, while stamping the letterbox book to allow the owner comprehend it has been seen as. An Internet search for popular letterbox sites Letterboxing and Atlasquest will yield hundreds of such boxes hidden worldwide.

Letterboxing in Richmond

One can find several letterboxes in the metropolitan Richmond area, in urban and rural locales. Traditionally, a hunter will check Internet sites for clues on how to locate the boxes – some may give precise directions, and some may present a puzzle to decode so as achieve the goal. For an notion of what to expect in Richmond letterboxes, here are a few select ones designed for search:

An Irish Lass in Hollywood – hidden in the Hollywood Cemetery

The Siren’s Song – hidden around the campus in the University of Richmond

Deep Run School – hidden near Short Pump Park

The Carillon – hidden near a war monument

Slippery Rock – hidden in Deep Run Park

Rules of Letterboxing

Some things to remember when going on a letterboxing expedition:

Make sure you might have directions at hand. You won’t have to have a compass unless trying to find a challenging box, but it is good to print the directions in the letterboxing websites so you don’t get lost.

Be discreet if you find a letterbox. Some letterboxes hidden in parks and landmarks may be removed by staff or stolen, if you find a box be cautious with it and make sure it really is hidden in places you think it is, so others can find it later.

Plan your route. There could possibly be designer letter boxes hidden in just a few miles of each other. Do your research and you will create a whole day with the search.

Have fun! Letterboxing with your kids is really a great way to encourage their orienteering skills.