Lumpkin's jail

Lumpkin's Jail is a downtown Richmond site where excavated foundations lie fourteen feet below ground level near the State Capitol Building. Archaeological work in the mid-2000s revealed multiple structures, including a kitchen, guest house, and the main holding facility.

Robert Lumpkin operated this slave-holding facility from 1840 through the Civil War, establishing it as Richmond's largest center for selling enslaved people. The site reflects the city's major role in the slave trade during that era.

After the Civil War, the site became a theological school for freed people under Mary Lumpkin's stewardship, reflecting how a place of suffering transformed into one of learning and hope. Visitors today can see how this physical space gained new purpose in the lives of formerly enslaved individuals.

The site is within walking distance of the State Capitol and features interpretive exhibits about its history. Visitors should approach this location with respect, as it concerns a serious subject matter related to enslaved people and their suffering.

Anthony Burns, an enslaved man captured under the Fugitive Slave Act, was held at this facility until abolitionists raised money to purchase his freedom. His story demonstrates the desperate efforts of people who fought for the liberation of others.