When I showed up to tour the VA Capitol building the woman at the front desk asked were I was visiting from.
I had to embarrassingly admit that I’d been a Richmond resident for quite a few years and was just now getting around the touring the Capitol. Playing tourist in the city one lives in is a highly underrated activity. I frequently travel outside of the US and will wander city streets aimlessly gawking at things locals take for granted.
Yet in 10 years of living in RVA I’d never set foot inside of the Capitol Building. Seriously people, I’m embarrassed that it’s taken me so long to try to see it.
Richmond wasn’t always the capital of Virginia, that honor was previously held by Williamsburg but in 1780 good old RVA became the capital, the only thing the government needed was a suitable building. Thomas Jefferson, who was living abroad as the first American ambassador to France after the Revolutionary War was asked to design a fitting building.
Architecture at that time in the previous capital of Williamsburg was in the Georgian style which Jefferson apparently hated, according to our tour guide. While exploring the southern part of France, ol TJ saw an ancient Roman temple and was so enamored by the design that he said “screw it, that’s what I’m building in Richmond”.
Well, it’s more likely he said “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants”, but the point is that this building was the first of its kind in the Americas, and no one had seen anything like it before.
The photo below is the first iteration of the Virginia State Capitol Building, inspired by the Maison Carrée, a Roman temple in Nimes, France.
After passing through a small security checkpoint I entered the visitors center and gift shop area. Small exhibits on each side of a long marble hallway detail the history of the Capitol as well as the Richmond area both before, during and after the Civil War. I didn’t get to spend too much time looking at the exhibits since the free (yes, FREE) guided tour was about to start.
While focusing mainly on the Richmond Capitol Building itself, you learn a lot about general Virginia history from the beginning of the colonies up to present day. I’ve taken a lot of tours in many places and the fact that the tour is free and the guide was entertaining, knowledgeable and loved answering questions sold me on the experience.
The Capitol building is part museum and part active government offices. The day I visited, the building was practically empty as all of the legislators were out of town for an annual meeting. Normally the Capitol Building is a bustle of activity I was told, but on that day it seemed deserted.
The wings of the Capitol Building were only added in 1906, and are where the active chambers of the Senate and House of Delegates meet to do business – however the old chamber is faithfully intact and looks much as I imagine it did when Virginia’s leaders met to decide on whether or not to secede from the Union.
The newer chamber looks exactly like what you see on C-Span (you all watch C-Span right?…..umm, me either) and in fact if you so desire you can watch the proceedings live. Apparently they broadcast active House and Senate sessions, so if you didn’t get that prime seat you wanted to see the action on HB3725 in person, you can sit in another room and watch it.
No word from Comcast if this will be added to their channel lineup.
Seriously though it was cool to stand in a place where decisions which actually affect your life as a resident of Richmond or Virginia take place. Buttons are pressed and that’s how a bill becomes law, well sort of. I think this cartoon explains it better but regardless seeing where your representatives make decisions on your behalf is worth a look.
The free tour of the VA State Capitol was fascinating and I wish it hadn’t taken me so long to visit. The grounds surrounding the capitol building also house the Executive Mansion where the governor resides, as well as many other historical buildings.
If the day hadn’t been as chilly as it was I’d have liked to wander the grounds a bit more, maybe take a seat on one of the many benches, and sit to reflect on history.
