Located at 9th Street in Richmond, the Virginia State Capitol building is home to the Virginia General Assembly, which is the oldest legislative body in the country.
Built in 1788, the building has been reconstructed seven times on account of the fires which destroyed it repeatedly during the Colonial period. Today, this building is recognized as one of the most outstanding examples of Colonial architecture, and is one of the only 13 state capitols in the country which does not have an external dome. However, the Virginia State Capitol building is even more extraordinary because it has an internal suspended dome under its roof. The first neo-classical structure was designed by renowned French craftsman, Charles-Louis Clérisseau. The current building however, has been modeled on plans drawn up by Thomas Jefferson and is themed on the lines of the ancient Roman temple, Maison Carrée in Southern France. The building has often been referred to as the temple of democracy, a premise which permeates almost every element in its structure. Apart from the two wings and the front steps which were added to the structure when it was last remodeled in 1906, the building looks just like it did at the beginning of the 20th Century.
The building is also famous as the resting place for the life-sized statue of George Washington which is housed in the rotunda and is known as the only representation for which he actually posed. There is also a smaller dome which showcases busts of the eight presidents of the United States who had their roots in Virginia. The Capitol building also has a museum in the old Hall of the House of Delegates which visitors can explore on a 30 minute guided tour.
You can visit the Virginia State Capitol Building from 9 am to 5 pm, all through the week in the months between April and November and from 9 pm to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday during the rest of the year.
