and i started on this project looking deeper into the relationship. bill: nathan packard, we appreciate you being here on "american history tv." nathan: thank you. 1741, the church was the first in the city of richmond. it gained notoriety in march of 1775 when the second virginia convention was held there and attended by colonial leaders and future founders. it was here that patrick henry gave his famous give me liberty or give me death speech. which else part the beginning of the american revolution. up next, the newly elected richmond mayor takes c-span cameras on driving tour the city. while in richmond, we took a driving tour of the city with the mayor. >> thank you showing us around

richmond today. if someone is ever been to richmond, virginia, what should they know about the city? >> they should know that this is the cultural history arch capital of all things virginia. city with theving historic riches. >> we are headed to churchill. >> what makes churchill distinct? the just part of the original layout. you will see the original part of the city. here on the right, st. john's church. >> what happened at that spot? >> i know many people at the textbooks out right now. pastor kenny gave his famous -- patrick henry gave his famous give me liberty or give me death

speech. >> you still preserve the church. when you go through richmond, your around history with these modern restaurants and shops. how do you make sure that you keep that not to history alive while still dealing with the city. ? >> this is about tourism. what attract people to your city. not only do we have great historic features, but with a great river that runs the city as well. it's what keeps people coming back. they can also partake in restaurants in the great museums that have. they do so many people -- things. this is libby hill right here. this is the view, william burress came in with settlers

richmond, came here and saw this band around the river and naysayers reminded him of , that's how we got the name richmond. right here you have the view downtown. a beautiful view of our downtown financial district. this is the capital virginia as well. not only to live a financial district, but also government buildings. i think that makes it a great city as well. >> i'm seeing a lot of buildings. the lucky strike tower. is that part of richmond's economic past, present? >> the past. the river provided all things commerce and trade back in the day. >> where are we heading now? >> we're heading to richmond hill hearing churchill, it's a view of all things downtown.

what i remember from this view of the city is a lot of different candidates and politicians in the past held a lot of press conferences is that for such a great view of all things downtown. you can see the hustle and bustle downtown. ,his is right here a great view you can see downtown and the vcu health complex. you can see the capital from here. are we going to go by the capital? let's do that. you can see jefferson's works. >> how does the city, government and state government react? >> the state government as a partner. i'm lucky to have the state government based in our city.

also prevents object -- present some challenges as well. the --'t necessarily get they are tax-exempt. i would rather have them and not have them. >> we're at the state capital. the state capital looks at a lot of other capital buildings that i've seen. >> this is the original. one of the oldest operating capitals we have. >> who designed this? >> thomas jefferson. >> designed to capital but still in use today. >> tell me about what we're seeing here. >> abraham lincoln came here right end of the civil war when richmond fell and basically he freed some slaves right over here.

mrs. harry byrd over here. hill. about, thereing are a lot of monuments. >> do want to go to monument avenue? >> even liking here back in 2004, richmond was on that upward trajectory, but there is still much to be desired. a lot of this was basically abandoned. , i people come back now think what we are experiencing is that there are folks who went off to college other places come had jobs in other cities, placing sandwiches on washington and they come back because richmond is cool again. >> what made it cool again?

businesses, and what made the change? change, try to explain this, vcu went to the final four, that helped with that, where's the school from? this is richmond. this was one of the epicenters of the .12 election. when president obama when virginia for the first time in 44 years. a democrat. >> so do you think that's change as far as government as well? the genuine blue in the most recent election. >> richmond is a part of that because we play a significant role in the electoral region of the commonwealth of virginia. not only do have votes in

northern virginia, but also a thriving and growing region as well. we are still growing and i think vcu is a driver of that. >> how do millennials respond to richmond's history? folks who are moving into the city, just like i did about 13 years ago, you are surrounded by history basically every single day. history also means some of the history we are not proud of. iere's confederate history think is a stain on the city's record. being stuck in the past, we can history should be a foundation to build from you think we are writing new chapter of it's a

being a welcoming, opening an inclusive city that is tolerant of all cultures and all of life. we are on monument avenue, one inthe most iconic streets all of america. what are the first monuments on the left, one that was created in 1996 or 97 was for arthur ashe, the tennis star was born and bred in richmond. right now it is the only monument of an african-american on monument avenue. there will be statue to those who serve, those who were in the civil war. stuart,rthur ash, jeb stonewall jackson, robert e lee. >> there has been maybe a little bit of controversy about some of the statues here.

what are the feelings in the city about the statues on monument avenue? >> i think folks recognize this is a part of our history. horrible history may be, but it's a part of our history. said, what i want to jefferson step -- davis statue torn down westmark know i wouldn't. whether how terrible it is a not, it should not be our anchor. michael's about not repeating the history. right now the statues have no , such as these figures and i think the key is to help the whole -- tell the whole story. richmond could be the center of all things reconciliation. yes with a terrible past, but

it's time to start writing a new chapter in that first begins with the conversation about reconciliation. goals for your dream not just a time is mary -- mayor, but also as a resident question mark >> -- question mark --? >> the goal of want to achieve is for people to think about richmond. i want to change what people think after they say the capital virginia. also a center for arts and culture, not necessarily just being known as the capital of the confederacy. we've whole lot more going on for us. we are more open-minded and more inclusive than our history. >> next on c-span3's american history tv, an interview with

, whoalist gwen eiffel worked for the new york times, washington post, nbc news, and for washington week in news hour on pbs. she died in 2016. the interview is from explorations in black headed by, a project university professors. there currently are in five the interviews with prominent african american women. she discusses her upbringing as the daughter of an outspoken ame minister, her work as a on camera news personality and written reporter ended her expense with racism in the newsroom. this will -- this was recorded two dozen nine. onthank you for being explosions of black leadership. were bornin, you after