The Virginia State Capitol

The Virginia State Capitol (c. 1865)

The Virginia State Capitol (2017)

Site Name: Virginia State Capitol

Date of Construction: Planning Began: 1780 Broke Ground: 1785 Jefferson's Capitol: 1800

Reason for Construction: Built to house the seat of Virginia’s government.

Site History: The first Virginia State Capitol was originally the Jamestown Church located in Jamestown. The capital of Virginia was then moved to Williamsburg, along with a new capitol building. During the American Revolutionary War, Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson encouraged to move the capital from Williamsburg to Richmond. In 1780, the capital was moved to Richmond and planning for a new capitol building began at the site. In 1785, the capitol building broke ground because of fears that the capital would be moved out of Richmond. During this period, Thomas Jefferson and French architect Charles-Louis Clérisseau were working on a model for the new capitol. They came up with a stucco-clad brick building modeled after the Maison Carrée, a Roman Temple in Nîmes, France, and the capitol building was completed in 1800. During the American Civil War, the Virginia State Capitol served as the Capitol of the Confederacy. The building was thankfully spared during the war, but during the year 1870, a large crowd fell through the floor of the capitol and 62 people died, and the building had to be fixed.

Area History: The area around the site is known as the Capitol Square and it is located in Downtown Richmond. When the capital was moved to Richmond and a new capitol building was built, the city was thriving. It continued to thrive and the city became a major industrial center and the downtown became a major hub for slave trade. Although the downtown suffered a lot as a result of the Civil War, the area was able to rebuild and eventually thrive again. The Virginia Governor’s Mansion was built on the Capitol Square and completed in 1813. In 1850, the Capitol Square was redesigned by John Notman of Philadelphia and created a “natural” style. In addition, several monuments have been constructed throughout the square such as the Virginia Washington Monument, which contains statues of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, and more.

What about the site has changed? Since the final building was completed in 1800, there have been plenty of changes done to the original model. From 1904 to 1906, there was a major renovation where two new wings, one on the left and one on the right, were added to the building. In 2005, the Capitol had another renovation done where a new entrance was added, an underground visitor center was built, and the exterior and interior of the building was restored back to its 1907 appearance.

What about the surrounding area has changed? Downtown Richmond and the Capitol Square  have drastically changed since the capital was moved to the city and a the Virginia State Capitol was built. Downtown Richmond was a huge slave trade center in the U.S. when the capitol was move. During the Civil War, the area become a military town and the capital of the Confederacy. After the war, the downtown area was able to rebuild and a lot of industry moved into the area. Since then, more and more companies such as Bank of America, Suntrust, Dominion Power, and many more have moved into the downtown area, creating a very scenic skyline in the area.

Reflection: The Virginia State Capitol building has managed to evade all major destruction possibilities which is quite impressive considering that half the city was deliberately burned by the Union troops. The site is quite interesting in itself. All around you there are tall and modern skyscrapers. It feels as if the Capitol Square is a hidden gem in a busy city. The actual Capitol building is located on top of a hill, and from the front steps you can see down towards the James River. Overall, the site is quite impressive and fascinating with its natural look and style.

Authors: Rahlil Jones and Daniel Opstelten