Number 22--Richmond, Virginia

Number 22—Richmond, VA

Mr. Jefferson's Temple

1000 Bank Street Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 698-1788

Tours: Virtual on website. Guided  one hour tours 9:00 to 4:00 Monday thru Saturday, Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 (was not available on the day I visited as a zillion school children were visiting and guides apparently were reserved for them). Self-guided tours. Can see the House and Senate chambers through locked glass doors. Governor’s formal office was being used, so could not see it. Did visit the “old”chamber. A class was being conducted in the General Assembly (House) room. I sat through part of this. A “bill” was being introduced to the class. A speaker, the clerk and a delegate was about to be chosen to pass the “bill.” A fun way of teaching/learning.

www.virginiacapitol.gov

Virginia, like Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Massachusetts, call themselves Commonwealths.  The definition given in the Virginia Capitol's pamphlet:  "...is a government based on the consent of the people and guided by the rule of law.  Virginia evolved from a royal colony into a commonwealth with a new written constitution in 1776."

MR. JEFFERSON’S CAPITOL

Old Dominion State

Jamestown and Williamsburg were earlier capitals.  This is the eighth building used for the capitol.

On May 1, 1780, when the legislature met in two makeshift frame warehouse buildings at 14th and Cary Streets near Shockoe Bottom. Plans were begun, including appropriating funds to build a permanent home in the form of a new building to serve a new state, the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Shockoe Hill was chosen as the site of the new building…a high hill overlooking the falls of James River. The design of the new Capitol was modeled after the Maison Carrée at Nîmes in southern France, which in turn was modeled after an ancient Roman temple. The Vermont State House is the only other state to accurately copy an ancient model.  It has based its portico on the Temple of Theseus in Athens. Jefferson had the architect, Charles-Louis Clérisseau, substitute the Roman Ionic columns over the more ornate Corinthian column designs of the prototype in France. The cornerstone was laid on August 18, 1785, with Governor Patrick Henry in attendance. It was sufficiently completed for the General Assembly to meet there in October 1792.

Virginia claims to have the second oldest state house in continuous use after Maryland (no one is making claim other than Maryland to be the first in continuous use).  However, New Jersey wants to make the same claim as a portion of their current state house is the original.  Most of the original thirteen colonies/states can claim older state houses that have either been torn down or are now museums.  Those still in use include Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Delaware.

American Civil War (War Between the States, War of Northern Aggression)

The building served as the Capitol of the Confederate States of America during the War Between the States (1861–65), as well. Fortunately, the Capitol, Governor’s Mansion (adjacent), and the White House of the Confederacy-- about three blocks to the north on East Clay Street (I did not visit-not realizing how near it was)--were spared when departing Confederate troops were ordered to burn the city's warehouses and factories  From these burnings fires spread out of control in April 1865.

The first United States flag to fly over the capitol after surrender was hoisted by Lieutenant Johnston L. de Peyster. U.S. President Abraham Lincoln toured the Capitol during his visit to Richmond about a week before his assassination at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.

From April 6 until April 10, 1865 Lynchburg served as the Capital of Virginia. Under Gov. William Smith, the executive and legislative branches of the commonwealth moved to Lynchburg for the few days between the fall of Richmond and the fall of the Confederacy.

1870 tragedy

After the War, during Reconstruction, Virginia was under military rule for almost five years, that ended in January 1870. In the ensuing months, a dispute over leadership of the Richmond government resulted in the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals holding a hearing on April 27, 1870, in the large courtroom on the second floor of the Capitol.  This added weight, in addition to the crowd already there, caused the entire courtroom floor to give way, falling 40 feet (12 m) into the House of Delegates chamber.

The injured stumbled, crawled or were carried out onto the Capitol lawn during the mayhem that followed. Sixty-two people were killed and 251 injured. There were no women believed to have been present when the collapse occurred. The dead included Patrick Henry’s grandson, and three members of the General Assembly. Both men contesting the Richmond mayoral position, the speaker of the House of Delegates, a judge and Henry H. Wells (a former governor) were injured; and former Confederate General Montgomery D. Corse was partially blinded by the collapse.

Despite demands for the building's demolition, the damage from the tragedy of 1870 was repaired. In 1904, two wings (not in the original plans) were added to the east and west ends of the building to provide much-needed additional space for the growing legislature.

Rebuilding, expansion, renovation

Rotunda, with Houdon's statue of George Washington in the center

Old House of Delegates Chamber

Senate Chamber (in session)

Modern renovation with wings on both sides

In 2003, the assembly approved $83.1 million for the renovation, restoration and expansion of the Capitol. Work began in 2004 and was completed on May 1, 2007 (In time for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Richmond and Jamestown). Among major changes are a completely new HVAC system, updated mechanical, storm water and plumbing systems, and construction of a 27,000-square-foot expansion beneath the hill on the south lawn. The expansion is handicap accessible and provides a visitor's entrance, office space, meeting rooms, and better security management. Total final cost of the restoration was approximately $104 million.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_State_Capitol

Capitol Square

The area around the Capitol is known as Capitol Square.  A map is provided to give some detail about each statue.  It contains several monuments of prominent Virginia patriots, heroes and events in Virginia:

• George Washington Equestrian Monument, pleased 1858,  Very tall.  It is surrounded by many other patriots encircling the base.  Completed in 1869
In 1869, the monument was completed, with statues of the following encircling the base:

·         Patrick Henry

·         Thomas Jefferson

·         Andrew Lewis

·         John Marshall

·         George Mason

·         Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Other statues were added as noted:

• General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, 1875
• Governor William “Extra Billy” Smith, 1906
• Dr. Hunter Holmes Mc Guire, 1904
• Zero Milestone, 1929, for measuring highway distances from the city of Richmond
• Edgar Allan Poe, 1958
• Harry F. Byrd Sr, 1976
• Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, 2008
• The Bell Tower was built in 1824–1825. It is still used for ceremonial ringing, it now houses a visitors’ center.

Senate: 40 members

House/General Assembly: 100

Date Complete:  1792, 1904 (wings), 2007 (expansion)

Architect/Style:   Thomas Jefferson designed/Charles-Louis Clérisseau/ Classical Revival (Early Republic, Pallidian)

Getting there:  Easy to see.  Challenging to get there.   One way streets. 

Parking:  On street meter parking.  $.25/fifteen minutes.  2 hour limit.  Parking garage within walking distance

Liberty Bell:  Each state and most territories have been gifted at least one replica of the liberty bell.  Each bell is numbered. 

http://www.libertybellmuseum.com/exhibits/statebells/index.htm

The fifty five full-sized replicas were cast in 1950 by the Paccard Foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux, France and shipped as gifts to states and territories to thank the United States for its part in France’s liberation.  They were funded by a savings bond drive.

In some states, the replica bells are located outside on the grounds of the capitol; some states have located them in other prestigious places such as state historical societies; some states don’t seem to have a clue where it is. 

Virginia’s is not on the Capitol grounds, but in Charlottesville’s central fire house.  I did not get details, but apparently the Boy Scouts raised money there for its setting, etc.  I will check this out at some later time. (#32)

Cornerstone:  Bronze plague commerating original cornerstone which was laid by Richmond Lodge #13 AF&AM and the Speaker of the Senate.

Dome/Rotunda/Dome topper: Normally I prefer the domes on capitals.  However, the architecture is perfect for its setting without a dome. Virginia is one of a handful of state capitols without an external dome. (The others are the capitols of Alaska, Delaware*,Hawaii*, Louisiana* Nebraska,* New Mexico, New York,* North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee)

*previously visited—

Delaware is brick, Georgian style and sits on a campus of many brick buildings. (See #21).  Louisiana and Nebraska have towered buildings.  New York original design had a dome, but it was built without it.  On the other hand, Oklahoma did not have a dome in its original design, but it has added one.  When I visited Hawaii’s capitol, it was still in the Iolani Palace in the late 60’s.  A “new” capitol was built also without a dome.  Guess I need to go back to Hawaii to see the “new” one.  http://www.iolanipalace.org/

Art:  Virginia loves her marble and bronze memorials to its great patriots, heroes and  men.  Portraits of Governors.  Great original paintings of Jamestown and the Burning of Richmond

Brothers

Quarter:  Reverse Description: Released on October 16, 2000, this is the 10th coin released in the 50 State® Quarter Program and the fifth released in 2000. Virginia’s quarter features images of Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery which are the three ships that brought the first English settlers to Jamestown. The coin is inscribed: Jamestown 1607-2007; Virginia; 1788; 2000; and E Pluribus Unum. President William J. Clinton was in office when this legislation was signed. Designer: Edgar Z. Steever. http://www.usmint.gov/historianscorner/?actiSupreme Court Building:  Separate Building, 9th and Franklin (across the street)
:
Entered Union:  June 25, 1788,

What’s unique:

1.       Seemed as though tour was extremely limited as to what is open to public.

2.     Virginians are the most loyal of anyone I have ever met as to their patriots and history.  In the most recent renovation everything was done to preserve “Mr. Jefferson’s vision.”  This was done with much underground work.  Virginia is proud of its heritage.  The soil that was removed to do the underground work was carried off-site and returned after the completion.  Too many patriots had walked ion that soil.  Virginia’s soil returned to Virginia.

3.       Capitol Square is well flowered with bright red geraniums and lots of bronze statues to its patriots and heroes.  Bell Tower.

Washington

reference and resourse material came from pamphlet provided by the State of Virginia, wikipedia, an extremely helpful docent and personal observation.