100-Year Anniversary of the Church Hill Tunnel Collapse

On Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, the Church Hill Association & Friends of Jefferson Park mark the 100th anniversary of the Church Hill Train Tunnel collapse — a tragic event in Richmond’s past. The tunnel, with a train and the remains of at least two workers still buried beneath us, endures as a powerful reminder of lives and history sealed underground.

There was a guided tour by Rachel Pater of Richmond Story House, who shared the story of the tunnel before, during, and after the collapse while following the tunnel’s actual path through Church Hill, ending at Jefferson Park.

Following the walk was a commemorative ceremony at Jefferson Park. The program featured remarks by elected officials, community leaders, local historians, and a harp performance by Elizabeth Owens.

This evening of remembrance honored the lives lost and invited the community to reflect on resilience, memory, and the passage of a century.