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    Virginia State Capitol

    4.4 (75 reviews)
    Closed 1:00 pm - 5:00 PM

    Virginia State Capitol Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Virginia State Capitol

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    Mary A.

    What a fun, interesting and concise tour! I highly recommend it to visitors and locals. Our guide, Mr. Greenough, was fantastic. I have been on many tours similar to this and they can occasionally get boring but our guide kept it interesting the entire tour. The capital is absolutely gorgeous and is steeped in history. I really enjoyed learning about the capital and the women's sculpture out front was amazing! I enjoyed coming home and reading more about each of the women featured. I highly recommend this free tour.

    Bell tower.
    Dustin E.

    I had the best time here. It was wonderful to see another building designed by Thomas Jefferson. The tour guides here are incredible. They can answer any questions that you have, and did a wonderful job leading the tour and with all of their information. The building itself is magnificent. So much history here and it was fun to learn about it. I would highly recommend that you go!

    Bank street entrance
    William V.

    We visited on a Wednesday at 2:00 and took a tour. There were only 5 of us on the tour at the time. But people were walking around and would come and go. We did get to see 2 different legislators that were there talking with people I. Their districts. The tour was about an hour long and was very informative.

    Cool George Washington statue
    Stephanie G.

    I took a tour here, and it's free, and unlike most capitols, it's open on Saturday and Sunday for extra availability. There are a lot of paintings of figures from Virginia, and there is the only statue made from life of George Washington. There are 7 busts of presidents born in VA around it and also the Marquis de Lafyette because why not. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and our tour size was about 15 people. The old state rooms had significant art in it, including the original model of the building itself. The few rooms we toured all had interesting stories, including when Queen Elizabeth II visited. The only downside is things were recently removed but not replaced, so things seems haphazard and incomplete.

    Ervin S.

    Super cool place. Random drive by on our way back from Duke in NC. Place is a gem and was empty as we left on a Sunday. No one around and we took pictures of the sights and architecture. If it were open, I would have definitely toured but just seeing this beauty in the center of a city, one should always take the time to appreciate it if they can. A must see on Sunday if you want no crowds at all and enjoy what we got to see. Best part, open to the public with no charge at all. Gorgeous day in a gorgeous setting!

    Shannon L.

    The Virginia State Capitol is a beautiful blend of history and architecture. The guided tours are informative, and the grounds are perfect for exploring.

    Washington Monument
    Alexis B.

    When we were in Richmond a few weeks ago, we made a stop at the Virginia State Capitol. We visited on a weekend when the building was closed to visitors, but the grounds are worth a visit all on their own. We stopped by the Virginia Washington Monument; "Mantle," the Virginia Indian Monument; the Virginia Women's Monument: Voices from the Garden; and the Virginia Civil Rights Monument. If you're interested in monuments, public art/sculpture, or Virginia history, the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol are well worth a visit.

    Tank G.

    Like many state capitols before it, this place is historical and has a lot of statues and monuments on its grounds and is pretty much a museum on the inside. This building has been in service since 1788 and of course has underwent many renovations along the way. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance from here. On the exterior you will find the Washington Equestrian Monument, with President Washington sitting on a horse, an old Bell tower, The Virginia's Women Monument, and some benches to sit under an area shaded by tall trees. You will also find trees dedicated to the likes of Presidents Washington and Tyler, Governors Colgate Darden, Charles Robb, and Gerald Baliles, and Martin Luther King. It is a nice plaza area to just hang out in. I will admit that currently there is a lot of construction going on at the Capitol causing an eye sore, in some cases and some of the ground's area to be restricted or blocked off. The Capitol itself is still open to the public. Admission is free, but you do have to go through security to be allowed in. There are like 4 levels that you can visit in the building. The bulk is on the 2 and 3 levels though. The tour starts on the second level. You can either do a self guided tour or take a tour with a guide. I did the guided tour. It was very nice. However, it only covered the second floor and lasted about an hour and a half. We visited the rotunda, which featured a very detailed marble statue of President Washington and busts of all other Virginia born Presidents of the United States. We also go to visit the Jefferson Room (be sure to see the clock and models of the capitol), the Old Senate Chamber (the huge paintting in here is awesome) and the Old Hall of the House of Delegates (full of busts of important figures), which I found the most interesting. As an added bonus, our group was able to go into the House Chambers, which is normally locked. Our guide had a key and was able to let us in. It was a nice treat and the cherry on top of the tour. After the guided portion, you are free to roam on your own. There are a bunch of portraits on the 3rd and 4th levels and you get a nice birds eye view of the rotunda from up there. There is not much on the first floor except pictures of the senate sessions, diagrams of the building and a couple of plaques honoring the first African American Members of the House of Delegate. I learned a lot during my tour such as Virginia is a Commonwealth and not a State, but they mean the same thing and are used interchangeably. Ugggg, so confusing.I also learned that the statue of George Washington was made using his actually measurement and a mold from his actual face. It is the only such one. This is a nice place to visit, especially considering that it is free. You can spend as little or as much time as you want here (within operating hours). This is definitely a must see while in Richmond. I was glad that I was able to check it out (inside and out) and enjoyed my visits here.

    Outside the capital, George Washington
    Bobbi H.

    Pretty cool to tour the capital building and see both the historic senate and house chambers as well as the modern day. Docents are Wonderful! Definitely worth the visit to see the history!

    Diana C.

    Was in the area and had time to jump on a quick free tour at the Capitol building. Tours are held hourly and our guide was extremely informative and welcoming. The historically significant building is absolutely stunning and a must see when in the area!

    VA Capitol
    Jacques I.

    Holla if your goal is to visit every state capitol! Yeah, I'm that nerd. But whatever. Virginia State Capitol is my favorite capitol (sorry, Washington). It's rich in history, which is what makes this capitol worth a visit if you find yourself in Richmond. While we're talking all things nerdy, my favorite president is Thomas Jefferson, so it had been a lifetime goal of mine to visit the Virginia State Capitol, as Jefferson designed this building. Therefore, it's no accident it's a beaut. There are multiple levels to this building, including an underground visitor's center. Located in downtown Richmond, there's plenty of street parking by the capitol. I visited on a weekday when it wasn't during session, and practically had the entire place to myself. I spent a few hours, admiring the building and artifacts here. Some highlights were the old house and senate chambers, the rotunda and the Thomas Jefferson statue. I recommend checking out this capitol building, even if you don't plan on visiting all 50 capitols. This one is very historic and telling of the founding of our nation.

    State Capital
    Gerry W.

    The tour is complementary and is self guided or with a knowledgeable guide. I recommend the guided tour which takes about 1 hour. The guided tour will provide details to the history of the building, politics and the role it played in the civil war. The Capital was designated a National Historic landmark in 1960

    Eric W.

    Considering the price (free) a surprisingly good, and informative, tour. I heard it is advisable to get here early, to be sure to get a spot, but as my brother did all the planning, all I did was follow. It's a very pretty building, inside and out. I definitely like the ties to my state of residence (Texas). The volunteers (at least I think they are volunteers) did a great job with the information. Very interesting learning how the renovations were done. Lot of interesting pictures and statues. The part about the dome was super cool. There is also a small cafe inside, so the option of food and drink is there. The guide told me, "Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back." Bottom line: If you have some time to kill, it's definitely worth checking out.

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    Ask the Community - Virginia State Capitol

    Review Highlights - Virginia State Capitol

    Designed by Thomas Jefferson, this is the oldest continually operating legislative building in the United States.

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    Ellen Glasgow House

    Ellen Glasgow House

    4.0(1 review)
    0.7 miDowntown

    The Ellen Glasgow house is a little gem that I learned about in my Architectural History classes…read morewhile attending VCU. I had done several papers on historic buildings in what is known as Monroe Ward Historic District and also takes its place as a National Historic Landmark. First the house, then more about its famous owner. The house was built in 1841 and is a combination of both Greek Revival and Federal Architectural styles. It was a common type of home for this era in Richmond and a few others still survive on 5th Street between Main and Cary Streets. It is a 3 over 2 style home with a hip roof and 4 chimneys. Like other homes of this style it has a double "sleeping porch' off the back to catch the previously unobstructed river breezes, a small garden, and a carriage house that is now an apartment. As was also common, this house is brick covered with stucco and scored to look like cut stone. This house if unfortunately not open to the public but is still significant enough to be of interest to historians, literary types, and architecture fans. It was the home of Ellen Glasgow who, in 1938, was the sixth woman inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. More impressive, in 1942, she received the Pulitzer Prize for her final novel, In This Our Life. Pretty neat stuff for a house you probably have driven by a thousand times. Her family bought the house in 1887. Glasgow, who lived in the house until her death in 1945, was a well-known Southern novelist and one of few Richmond women to achieve prominence in literature.

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    Ellen Glasgow House
    Ellen Glasgow House

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    Maggie Lena Walker Memorial Plaza

    Maggie Lena Walker Memorial Plaza

    5.0(4 reviews)
    0.7 miJackson Ward, Downtown

    Wonderful artistry in the statue and great location in the center of downtown. The timeline around…read morethe statue and the statue itself are both wonderful to see in person.

    "Let us be strong and make big plans!" -Maggie Walker…read more Maggie Walker has truthfully made a name for herself! Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1864 and raised by her mother Elizabeth Draper, a former slave, Maggie began to make a change as a teenager. Ms. Maggie Walker was an African American entrepreneur with a vision to make tangible improvements in the way of life for African Americans. She was a bright woman of many firsts, who dedicated her life to making positive social change within the community, especially for African American woman. Ms. Walker was the first woman bank president in the United States. She was also known as a writer, teacher, activist and speaker. If you are in the City of Richmond, I would strongly encourage you to check out Maggie Walkers' National Historic Site, located on E Leigh Street. I believe the National Park has done an exceptional job being able to tell the story of Maggie Walker and reliving her life. Maggie Walker is truly a woman that has accomplished a lot in her life, despite her disability as well as being an African American woman, and deserves to be remembered for her great achievements! Although this statue is located on the main street in Downtown Richmond, I still truly encourage to check out this memorial plaza.

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    Maggie Lena Walker Memorial Plaza
    Maggie Lena Walker Memorial Plaza
    Maggie Lena Walker Memorial Plaza

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    Emancipation & Freedom Monument

    Emancipation & Freedom Monument

    5.0(3 reviews)
    0.5 miDowntown

    I was visiting the city of Richmond during Black History Month and because of the historical and…read morecultural significance of Richmond during the slave trade - I wanted to make sure I saw and did as much as I could to explore this part of its history. The Emancipation and Freedom Monument is a beautiful bronze statue that was commissioned in 2021. The very nature of the topic that the statue represents, made it extremely powerful to see in person. I would highly recommend visiting the monument, as it is very moving, inspiring and has information on some of the KEY Virginians that fought against slavery and equality.

    All I can say is wow! I wish I could give this sculpture 5 more stars. It is as amazing as it is…read morepowerful. It is the center piece of Brown's Island. The piece, which is the work of Thomas Jay Warren of Oregon, was dedicated in 2021. It depicts two 12-foot statues. The first statue is of a shirtless male slave that has freed himself from the shackles around his wrist. The statue is very detailed and almost looks real. You can even see the whip marks on his back and his abs. The other stature that makes up this monument is of a woman that is cuddling a baby in her left hand and holding up what I assume are her freedom papers. The paper has the date January 1, 1863, which happens to be the date that Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. On the back of the base you will find the word "FREEDOM". On the other sides of the base you will find the names, images, and brief biographical information of ten African American Virginians whose lives were dedicated to Emancipation and freedom. one side displays five individuals from the period before Emancipation through 1865 (Mary Bowser, William Harvey Carney, Gabriel, Dred Scott, and Nat Turner). The opposite side has five people that continued to work for freedom from 1865 to 1970 (Rosa Dixon Bowser, John Mercer Langston, John Mitchell Jr., Lucy F. Simms, Wyatt Tee Walker). This is one of the best sculptures that I have ever seen and is so impactful. The detail on the sculptures is amazing. The choice of having this monument in Virginia is fitting, given that the state was key in the slave trade. If you could only see one sculpture not only in Virginia, but in the United States, it should be this was. Warren "dropped the mic" on this one. It would be tough for any sculpture to live up to the standard set by this one.

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    Emancipation & Freedom Monument
    Emancipation & Freedom Monument
    Emancipation & Freedom Monument

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    Old Negro Burial Ground

    Old Negro Burial Ground

    4.0(2 reviews)
    0.4 miUpper Shockoe Valley, Church Hill

    This is a local attraction that can easily be missed. It is located right off of a highway entrance…read moreramp and on the Historic Slave Trail. The grounds are well maintained and kept. It is opposite of the side that the Lumpkin Slave Jail is located. You can take an underpass to walk freely between the two sites. This was the first designated burial spot for the city's enslaved and free residents of African ancestry, dating back to as late as 1799. This one and a half acres was considered poor quality and had no other use but the cemetery. It was also the site of public hangings. Other names the site has been known as Potter's Field, were Burying-ground for Coloured persons, Grave Yard for Free People of Color" and Grave Yard for For Slaves You will find a memorial obelisk here with a plaque dedicating the cemetery. Their is also a spot with a couple of information placards that look likes a spot that people hold rituals and leave sacrifices/personal effects. The vast majority of the grounds is low cut green space. Additionally, there is a vacant and decrepit building there. I do not know what it was prior, but it looks historical. This is a nice place to visit. I would not consider it a long stop, so I would probably couple it with a visit to the old Lumpkin Slave Jail and other nearby attractions to maximize your time.

    Be on the look out because this landmark is easy to miss.This plaque is located on a bridge that…read moregoes over a park. Attached to the plaque is a rope going over the bridge and at the end of the rope is a noose. The area below was closed due to construction at the time of my visit. I apologize for no further information.

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    Old Negro Burial Ground
    Old Negro Burial Ground
    Old Negro Burial Ground

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    Hollywood Cemetery

    Hollywood Cemetery

    4.8(118 reviews)
    1.1 miHollywood Cemetery

    I went here on a Saturday morning. It is free to visit. Took a paid 90-minute historic walking tour…read more(Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour) by The Valentine. Tour started at the entrance and we went to notable spots. We were only 7 in the tour. Our tour guide Doug who has been doing it for 14 seasons was very knowledgeable. He shared interesting facts, architectural/art styles, history of people and places/Richmond. We saw the iron dog, graves of the 2 US presidents (John Monroe's Tomb and John Tyler's Monument), Lewis Ginter Mausoleum, Palmer Chapel Mausoleum (and the overlooks on its sides), among others. It was a nice tour. I learned a lot. If you plan to go there on your own, there's a map from the website that you can download and use where there are markers for the notable spots. Google Maps does not have these spots in it. The restroom can be found on the left shortly after entering the cemetery. Lewis Ginter Mausoleum shows Victorian era architecture. When you peek through the door, you would see the nice Tiffany glass artwork behind. With its history, nice views overlooking the James River, the peaceful and quiet environment, this is a place worth checking out.

    Every Richmonder, or person living in the vicinity of Virginia's capital city, should visit…read moreHollywood Cemetery at least once, possibly at least once a year. It's amazing. It's peaceful. It's beautiful. It's historic. It's a great place to take a walk. It's a great place to take photos or sit and read a book. Take a historic tour or read about all the notable tombs, lore and stories related to this cemetery and then take a long walk around with a friend or with your family. Spend a pretty day after work or on the weekend in the Spring, come back in the Fall. Just don't hurry yourself, take your time and absorb one of Richmond's most notable landmarks. The views from the various overlooks, hills, and the vistas overlooking the river and on to downtown are beautiful any time of year. There's no charge for admission, check the daily hours and plan a trip. You'll be glad you did. You'll likely come back.

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    Hollywood Cemetery
    Hollywood Cemetery
    Hollywood Cemetery

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    Virginia State Capitol - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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