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An American Classic: The Republic’s 1st Statehouse

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit the Virginia state Capitol, America’s first Neoclassical public building.
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An American Classic: The Republic’s 1st Statehouse
The Neoclassical Virginia state Capitol in Richmond reflects ancient Roman architecture with an American flair. Felix Lipov/Shutterstock
Lorraine Ferrier
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Since 1788, representatives have met in the Virginia state Capitol, in Richmond, making it the oldest English-speaking representative assembly in the country.

Much American history has been and continues to be made at the Capitol. In December 1791, for instance, the assembly ratified the U.S. Bill of Rights. And between 1861 and 1865, it was the Confederate Capitol, from which Robert E. Lee commanded Virginia forces and where Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as Confederate president.

Lorraine Ferrier
Lorraine Ferrier
Author
Lorraine Ferrier writes about fine arts and craftsmanship for The Epoch Times. She focuses on artists and artisans, primarily in North America and Europe, who imbue their works with beauty and traditional values. She's especially interested in giving a voice to the rare and lesser-known arts and crafts, in the hope that we can preserve our traditional art heritage. She lives and writes in a London suburb, in England.