Virginia Capitol Visitors' Brochure
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Visitor Information “Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” Thomas Jefferson Present-day Capitol Square changes with the seasons, the General Assembly It All Began in Virginia Forty State Senators are elected for four-year terms. The Lieutenant Governor Sessions, and the bustle of Richmond’s vigorous downtown. Americans are not ruled by monarchies and dynasties, nor owe allegiance to a is the President and presiding officer of the Senate. The Senate elects a self-appointed few. We are governed by ourselves. We are a representative senior member as President pro tempore and the Clerk, who serves at the Beginning in January of each year, the Square pulses with activity as legislators democracy, which entitles us to liberty, equality, free speech, a free press, protection pleasure of the Senate. The House of Delegates has 100 members, who are from all parts of Virginia convene to conduct the business of the people. of private property, privacy, and other inalienable rights. American self-government elected every two years. The Speaker of the House is elected from and by TheVirginia began in Virginia, and it continues to thrive at the Capitol today. the membership, and the Clerk is elected by the membership, each for a Throughout the year, visitors enjoy the magnificent grounds, walkways, two-year term. monuments and magic of the historic Square. School children and tourists The Virginiania General Assembly convenes here annually on the secondsecon Wednesday from around the globe use the Square as a starting point to visit downtown and State in Januaryry for 60 calendar days in even-numbered years; 45 daysdays in odd-numberedodd-numbered This Capitol is a livingliving landmarklandmark to American political ideals and a civics statewide historical attractions. years. Citizentizen legislatorslegislators represent the interinterestsests of over eieightght mmillionillion VirVirginians.ginians. classroom for futurefuture citizenscitizzens of the Commonwealth and the Nation.Nation. Operating Hours Capitol The Capitol building is open to visitors Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Capitol Square is open to GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING OLD CITY HALL PATRICK HENRY BUILDING the public from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. daily. Originally the Life Insurance Company Built: 1887-94 Originally the Virginia State Library of Virginia Building and Archives and the Tours Designed: 1912, Additions: 1922, 1955, 1964 Virginia SuSupremepreme CourtCourt Free one-hour guided tours begin Monday through Saturday no later than Built:Built: 1938-401938-40 10:00 a.m. for walk-in visitors (9:00 a.m. for groups by appointment), with the last tour starting at 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, guided tours are available beginning CommonwealthCCoommmmmonwe at 1:00 p.m., with the last tour starting at 4:00 p.m. In addition, self-guided ColgateCCoColollgatg teDe DardenDardarden PublicPPuubllic SafetySaafe tours are available during operating hours each day.* MemorialMMeemorial GardenGaarden MemorialMemoM oria Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Harry F. BByrd,yyrd, Sr. Dr.D Martin LutheLutherer StatueStStattuue King,Ki Jr.JM Memorial il TTree Individuals and small groups are invited to tour the Capitol on their own or with a tour guide. Guided tours for groups of 10 or more may be arranged by (To Broad St.)St.) calling Capitol Guides at (804) 698-1788. GovernorGovernor GenGeneralneral DDr.r. HuHHunterntter VirginiaVirrgingiinniia WiWilliamlliam SmithSmith ThomasThomas JJ.. JJacksonacksson HHolmesolmmes McGuireMccGuire CivilCivil RightsR Virtual Tours of the Capitol and Grounds are available at Zero Statue StatueSta e StatueStaS tuee MemorialMemorial EXECUTIVE Milestone MANSION virginiacapitol.gov/virtualtours. The Capitol's introductory film “Keepers of the GRACE STREET Flame” is available for viewing on site and on demand at Built: 1812-13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RtndAxko74 THE CAPITOL Entrance George Visitors enter the Capitol at the Main Entrance at 10th and Bank Streets. Washington Equestrian Monument Bell Tower St. Paul’s HOUSE OF The Bell Tower at the southwest corner of the Square, formerly the Episcopal Proposed site for SENATE ORIGINAL DELEGATES Church Achievements of the CHAMBER CAPITOL headquarters for the Virginia Public Guard, houses the Virginia Travel CHAMBER Women of Virginia (1906) (1788) Information Center. Brochures and maps to travel destinations and attractions Built: 1845 T monumentmoonuume (1906) E around the Commonwealth are available here. E Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.* (804) 545-5584 RE ST SOUTH PORTICO Capitol Gift Shop STREET 9TH 9TH EdgarEdEddgar Allan Poe Located in the Capitol Extension, near the Main Entrance. StatueSStStaatue Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. OLIVER W. HILL, SR. BUILDING (804) 698-7661 MAPM OF CAPITOL SQUARE Originally the State VIRGINIA Meriwether’s Cafe Library Building SUPREME Proposed site for Built: 1893-95 Located in the Capitol Extension, serving breakfast, lunch, and snacks. COURT Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.* (804) 698-7692 Legacy of Virginia Indians monument Built: 1919 Executive Mansion Additions: 1922 Home of Virginia’s Governor and First Family CAPITOL Fountainountain since 1813, the Executive Mansion is the Fountain EXTENSION oldest governor’s residence still used for its (2007) original purpose. Guided tours are available FRANKLINFRANKLIN STREETSTTREET BELLBELL TOWERTOWER on a limited basis and vary according to the season. Call (804) 371-8687 for more T WASHINGTON EE BUILDING information or to schedule a group tour. N E W Built: 1922-23 *Times subject to change S Cover image: Karl Steinbrenner Map images: Copyright Richmond Times-Dispatch; used with permission STREET 9TH 1831 engraving of Capitol: Valentine Richmond History Center Pathway to Liberty Photos & Illustration of Capitol and Interiors: Dick Kirkland, House of Delegates Clerk’s Office Main Entrance (Commemorative Sidewalk) All other images: The Library of Virginia BANK STREET (To I-95 & I-64) A revolution started here over 200 years ago that ensured our freedom of The Virginia State Capitol “This building is, beyond comparison, speech, assembly, rights to privacy, equality and self-government. Thomas Jefferson designed an architectural masterpiece symbolizing this noble 1000 Bank Street the finest, the most noble, and the Richmond, Virginia 23219 experiment. www.virginiacapitol.gov greatest in all America.” rev. 11/16 (804) 698-1788 See the Capitol grounds and the building’s historic interiors develop A Visitor to the Capitol from France, 1796 through time at virginiacapitol.gov/virtualtours. Notable Visitors to TO Thomas Jefferson, Architect of Liberty A Noble Experiment Capitol Square HISTORIC CAPITOL SENATE HOUSE Standing larger-than-life inside the plaza of the Capitol Extension, Included among the hundreds of thousandsands of visitors to Capitol ROOM 2 North Exit ROOM 2 the bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson serves as a focal point and a Square are many historical figures and notable personalities.aliti welcome to visitors as they prepare to enter the historic Capitol (Access to the upper floor and the SENATE SENATE HOUSE building he designed. Completed and dedicated in 2012, the historic Capitol via stairs or elevator.) ROOM 1 STAFF ROOM 1 A Home for Virginia's General Assembly Three days after his famous “Iron Curtain”rtain” speech, Winstonnsto ChurchilChurchilll OFFICES privately funded statue depicts Jefferson at the age of 42. He joined General Dwight D. Eisenhowerwer for a speech to a jojoint session holds in his hands one of his architectural drawings for the building LOWER ROTUNDA The first session of the Virginia legislature took place in Jamestown in of the General Assembly in 1946. that would become the Virginia State Capitol. Stairs Stairs 1619, a year before the first Pilgrim arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Elevator West Exit Capitol Concierge Desk East Exit Andrew Jackson, Winfield Scott, Meriwether Lewis anandnd Security The legislature met in churches, homes, a college, taverns and Washington Irving were spectatorsors and reporters at thee tretreason Elevator Architectural Inspiration statehouses in Jamestown and Williamsburg for 160 years. trial of Aaron Burr in 1807. Chiefef Justice John MarshalMarshalll SENATE Women’s Men’s HOUSE presided. Elevator STAFF Room Room SPEAKER’S The VirginiaVirginia State CapitolCapitol introduced the Classical Revival temple sstyletyle to OFFICES OFFICE the modern world. The first statehouse designed in the new Republic, it East Hallway East In 1780 the capital was moved to Richmond. The Assembly met in two The Marquis de Lafayette, a Revolutionary War hero, was MERIWETHER’S Thomas Jefferson has inspired countless public buildings for over 200 years. The Capitol was CAFE Statue made a full citizen of Virginiaa by an Act of Assembly. A SENATE HOUSE frame warehouses at 14th and Cary Streets in Shockoe Bottom and STAFF STAFF desidesignatedgnatg ed a NatNationalionalHil HiHistoricstoric LLandmarkandmark in 11960.960. bust of the Frenchman, sculptedlpted by Houdon, is OFFICES OFFICES appropriated funds to build a permanent home for the new seat of displayed in the Rotunda. LafayetteL f tt visitediitd theth West Hallway government. The Assembly began meeting in the new Capitol in 1788. Capitol in 1824. Wom HISTORIC en CAPITOL ’s Rest OLD HALL OF THE Presidents George Washington,hington, Zachary TaylTayloror, roo 1ST FLOOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES