Richmond

Richmond

The Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, designed by Thomas Jefferson along with Charles-Louis Clérisseau and completed in 1788, is a neoclassical masterpiece inspired by the Maison Carrée in France. As the first modern public building to adopt Roman temple architecture, it influenced numerous American structures, including the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Housing the nation’s oldest continuous legislative body (since colonial times in Jamestown, VA), it witnessed pivotal moments in U.S. history, including Richmond's role as the Confederate capital. Situated in Capitol Square, it features the iconic George Washington equestrian statue by Thomas Crawford (shown below).

Washington Monument

The Virginia Washington Monument, located in Capitol Square in Richmond, Virginia, honors George Washington, the nation’s first president and a Virginian. Designed by Thomas Crawford and completed between 1850 and 1869, it features an equestrian statue of Washington atop a pedestal. This monument, with its neoclassical design and rich symbolism, stands as a tribute to leadership and liberty, blending historical reverence with artistic grandeur.

Visual highlights:

Don't you love the soft, golden light bathing Washington's face, and his two eyes with such a steadfast gaze!
Apparently the Confederates during the American Civil War also loved this equestrian statue of Washington, as they made their "Seal of the Confederate States" modeled after this monument.
Below George Washington, there are six statues representing key figures from Virginia’s Revolutionary War history (in photo L-R): Patrick Henry, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson Jr.; John Marshall and Andrew Lewis are out of view in this photo.
The lowest level has six bronze female allegorical figures that represent, among others, "Bill of Right" (wielding a sword, lower left in photo) and "Independence" (with broken shackles, lower right)

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