Fan/Oregon Hill/VCU

Begin just beyond VCU, crossing W Broad for a closeup look at a wall-long, segmented woman. Head south into the Fan to a drippy woman hiding her eyes, a cartoon character collage, and a riff on Grant Wood's "American Gothic." Go east to a spindly boxer, south to a purple camel, a fox on a flying house, and a mysterious clinging bird. Finally, go northwest to VCU and a 3-story woman in a jar. It's about a 3-mile, 2-hour loop of fascinating  imagery.

 In this area of the Fan District known as the Lower Fan, streets of charming Victorian homes, inviting shops, and creative businesses converge on the thriving Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond's premier public research university. Bordering the southern edge of VCU is the historic, working-class neighborhood of Oregon Hill, that overlooks the James River and Belle Isle, and abuts meandering Hollywood Cemetery.

The Fan/Oregon Hill/VCU mural walk starts on the south side of the W Broad St and N Lombardy St intersection. We'll meet on the sidewalk at the foot of the impressive, photorealistic mural of a supine and segmented woman by James Bullough. You can't miss her! Parking can often be found along both sides of W Broad St in this area as well as N Allen St a block west. And the spacious Lowe's parking lot, address 1640 W Broad St, is moments from our starting point.