Neoclassical legislative chambers and historic interiors that reflect the origins and continuity of American civic architecture.
General Information
Closed Sundays and state holidays
Guided tours offered during business hours
How to Get There
From Richmond, VA (downtown): Follow Broad or Main Street east toward Capitol Square, then walk uphill to the Capitol grounds via the designated pedestrian entrances.
Overview
The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of state government and home of the Virginia General Assembly, the oldest elected legislative body in North America, first established as the House of Burgesses in 1619. Richmond is Virginia's third capital after Jamestown and Williamsburg.
Thomas Jefferson conceived the building, modeled on the Maison Carree in Nimes, France; it was built from 1785 to 1788, and two wings were added in the early 20th century. It is a National Historic Landmark and one of only twelve U.S. capitols with no external dome.
Capitol Square
- Washington Monument (1858) with statues of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, and others
- Statues: Stonewall Jackson, Edgar Allan Poe, and more
- Virginia Civil Rights Memorial (2008)
- Bell Tower (1824-25) and the Zero Milestone
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Virginia State Capitol", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
