Activity

Locals and visitors alike realize that Richmond is a popular destination for American history enthusiasts. Racing fans flock on the area twice yearly experience big events at the Richmond International Speedway, and various summer concerts and festivals keep everybody entertained. For hobbyists enthusiastic about letterboxing, Richmond is rich with several the opportunity to add timeless souvenirs in your collection, and memories to treasure.

A Brief Letterboxing Primer

For the advantages of readers a novice to this centuries-old practice of “treasure hunting,” letterboxing is similar towards the “geocaching” trend gathering popularity among GPS users. Letterboxing have their origins inside mid 19th century in England, where secret boxes storing letters along with other communications were happened upon or hunted. Visitors would depart something in exchange. In recent years, enthusiasts will hide letterboxes (usually a plastic, sealed container) containing imprints as well as a guestbook in a variety of places outdoors, and hunters make use of the stamp because of their own notebooks, while stamping the letterbox book permit the property owner know it has been discovered. An Internet hunt for popular letterbox sites Letterboxing and Atlasquest will yield hundreds of such boxes hidden worldwide.

unique letterbox australia in Richmond

One will get several letterboxes in the metropolitan Richmond area, in urban and rural locales. Traditionally, a hunter will check Internet sites for clues on where to find the boxes – some may give precise directions, although some may present a puzzle to decode in order get to the goal. For an thought of what to anticipate in Richmond letterboxes, here are a few select ones intended for search:

An Irish Lass in Hollywood – hidden within the Hollywood Cemetery

The Siren’s Song – hidden on 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 a weight letterboxing expedition:

Make sure you 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 through the letterboxing websites so that you avoid getting lost.

Be discreet if you find a letterbox. Some letterboxes hidden in parks and landmarks could possibly be removed by staff or stolen, so if you find a box take care from it and ensure it’s hidden in which you found it, so others can find it later.

Plan your route. There may be many different letterboxes hidden inside a few miles of each other. Do your research and you may make a whole day from the search.

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