The Capitol Building

The Virginia capiotol, also the first neo-Classical building in America, was designed by Thomas Jefferson in 1785. This building's groundwork was modeled after that of the Masion Carree, an ancient Roman temple in Nimes, France.

The Capitol's Rotunda is home to what is called the most accurate sculptured likeness of George Washington in the world. The statue shows Washington in Continental uniform and was sculpted by French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon. Openings in the walls encircling Washington's statue show statuettes of the seven other Virginia-born presidents. These presidents are Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Zachary Taylor, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Woodrow Wilson. Another of the statuettes encircling the Washington statue is that of Lafayette, an American Revolutionary [War] sympathizer from Europe.

Though completted in 1788, the Capitol is still at the center of Virginia's government; the Governor's office, and the Virginia Senate and Virginia House of Delegates offices are located here.