National Historic Landmark

Virginia State Capitol

Richmond (Independent City), Richmond County, Virginia
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000911

About this property

The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of state government of the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Richmond, the state capital. It houses the oldest elected legislative body in North America, the Virginia General Assembly, first established as the House of Burgesses in 1619. The Capitol was conceived of by Thomas Jefferson and Charles-Louis Clérisseau in France, based on the Maison Carrée in Nîmes. Construction began in 1785 and was completed in 1788. The current Capitol is the eighth built to serve as Virginia's statehouse, primarily due to fires during the American colonial period. The building also served as the capitol of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. In the early 20th century, two wings were added, leading to its present appearance. In 1960, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Location

Richmond (Independent City), Richmond County, Virginia
37.53822, -77.43343

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Virginia State Capitol

This page lists Virginia State Capitol. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

U.S. Post Office and Customhouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Governor's Mansion
Industrial
0.1 mi
Virginia Washington Monument
Listed
0.1 mi
Washington, George, Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Bell Tower
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Dahlgren Raid (Richmond Raid)
1864Civil War
0.2 mi
Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid
1864Civil War
0.2 mi
Battle of Bloody Run
1656Colonial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Virginia State Capitol listed on the National Register?

Virginia State Capitol was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Virginia State Capitol?

Virginia State Capitol is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Virginia State Capitol a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Virginia State Capitol has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Virginia State Capitol?

The period of significance for Virginia State Capitol is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Virginia State Capitol?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Virginia State Capitol will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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Virginia history

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