The Virginia State Capitol Building – the Most Visible Richmond Landmark

The Virginia State Capitol was not always centered on Richmond, VA but has been moved from several locations within the Commonwealth as times and needs dictated.  Today, the most visible landmark in Richmond if the majestic grandeur of the State Capitol Building, sitting atop Shockoe Hill, a dominating position which once overlooked the falls on the James River.

There have been seven other capitol locations in Virginia’s history, initially centered on Jamestown as the first successful colony, however as settlers and explorers moved inland to exploit the coastal plain and establish new townships and frontier posts, the center of government inevitably moved also.  It was not until 1780 that the Virginia legislature convened in Richmond, initially in a makeshift building at the bottom of Shockoe Hill.  Here plans were made, during the Revolutionary War, for a State Capitol to serve the new state, or in this case, the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Thomas Jefferson designed the building in partnership with Charles-Louis Clerriseau, a French architect.  The inspiration for the building was taken from Maison Carree in Nimes, France, a Roman temple which was much admired by Jefferson during his time as US Ambassador to France.  The building is built in a neoclassical style and was constructed without a dome, one of only a handful of State Capitol buildings not to have one, despite Jefferson’s predilection for them (Monticello, his home near Charlottesville and the University of Virginia are both known for their neoclassical style using domes).  The building was completed in 1788, and is now over 215 years old and is America’s oldest legislature of the colonists who eventually transformed the country into the United States. It also houses the only statue of George Washington made from him as a live model during his life – all others are replicated from images or memory.

The State Capitol Building was also the home of the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War, until it’s disbandment in 1865 with the victory of the Union armies.  The building once more reverted to its primary intended role as the State Capitol building of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Orders were given to burn Richmond by the fleeing Confederates, however the State Capitol Building along with the Governor’s Residence were  only a few of the buildings that were spared.  President Lincoln himself, toured the Capitol Building a week before he was assassinated.

In 1870, tragedy struck when a crowded court hearing was taking place in a court room on the upper floor.  The weight of a packed courtroom caused the floor to give way and resulting in many deaths and injuries.   Despite calls for the demolition of the building, it was decided to save it and renovate the State Capitol Building, including the addition of two wings. Initially, the east and west wings were not included in the original Jeffersonian design, and it was not until 1904 that these were added with construction completed in 1906.  The east wing is known as the House Wing, and the west wing is known as the Senate Wing.

Today, the State Capitol Building has been renovated once more at a cost in excess of $100 million.  Free tours are provided daily though visitors may also enjoy the building on their own.  The building is open all work days and on numerous holidays and children are welcome.

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Call of the Wild – Riverside Outfitters

Local roving reporter Jason Moreau recently interviewed Matt Perry – owner of Riverside Outfitters – for your reading pleasure.  Read this interview and tell me you don’t want to go to the river right NOW.  I know I do.

As someone who didn’t grow up in Richmond, one of the first things that impressed me about the region was the one thing that’s been rightfully impressing people for a long time, the James River. I recently caught up with Riverside Outfitters owner Matt Perry for his thoughts on Richmond, the ‘Rivah’, and business.

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Belle Isle – The Peaceful Center of Richmond

It isn’t often that once can find the peace and quiet of the outdoors in the middle of a bustling city.  Like so many other wonders that can be found within the boundaries of the City of Richmond, Belle Isle provides a welcome change of pace from what one might expect to be nestled in the center of an ever-growing metropolis.  This island, located in the middle of the James River in the heart of the city, offers its own surprises and opportunities for enjoyment and discovery.

Like the surrounding city, Belle Isle finds its roots steeped in Civil War history.  The island served as the site of a prison camp for Union soldiers during the war, many of which were capture soldiers from the 2^nd Tennessee Infantry, taken during the Battle of Rogersville in November of 1863. The Battle of Walkerton (which took place March 2, 1864) proved to be a failed attempt to rescue the starving men. Even today, remains of the buildings used in the prison camp can be found scattered across the island.  Ruins of an armory and an iron factory still stand against the elements as a testament to the harsh history of the place.

The tragic history seems a distant memory, however, when one traverses the paths and trails of the island.  Modern amenities such as picnic shelters, rest areas, learning centers and even a tricky rope bridge provide visitors with the opportunity to enjoy the surrounding nature comfortably and safely. So when one sits at the top of the quiet island, overlooking the James River or Hollywood Cemetery, it is easy to forget that over the other shoulder sits an entire city full of people.  Until they trip over you with their dogs and their beer coolers, that is…

photos borrowed from Watermarked Photography’s Flickr Page

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