Virginia State Capitol — Attraction in Richmond

We visited Capitol Square and the Virginia State Capitol on a Sunday, so the building itself was closed, but it was still a great experience. Walking around the square, you’re surrounded by beautiful landscaping, historic monuments, and impressive statues that tell Virginia’s story. I enjoyed seeing the Governor’s Mansion and the Capitol building from the outside — both are striking in their architecture and presence. Even without going inside, it’s worth the visit for the atmosphere and history you can soak in just by strolling the grounds. I’ll definitely be coming back on a weekday to explore the interior when it’s open to the public.

The Capitol building, designed by Thomas Jefferson (with assistance from Charles-Louis Clérisseau) and inspired by the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, France, began in 1785 and was completed in 1792—serving as Virginia’s first post–Revolutionary War state capitol. The central structure you see today was later expanded with east and west wings in 1904–1906 to accommodate the growing...

Honestly? Come for the history, stay for the vibes.

The Capitol building itself is grand and serious — columns, Jefferson, all that — but the grounds are where the magic happens. Wide green lawns perfect for flopping down with snacks and pretending you’re in a PBS period drama (but with better shoes). Shade trees, good people-watching, and just enough breeze to make you feel poetic.

And then, out of the corner of your eye — bam! There they are. The metal women. Strong, solemn, stylish. A whole circle of ironclad ladies who look like they’re ready to hold a press conference and read you a sonnet. It’s the Virginia Women’s Monument, and it’s weirdly moving and totally worth wandering through. Feels like walking into a committee meeting of ghosts you’d actually want to impress.

Bonus: zero admission fee, occasional squirrels, and that slightly surreal feeling of lounging on history while someone in heels walks by giving a tour.

Bring a book. Or a sandwich. Or...

Very disappointed with this visit. I emailed ahead for a tour on my way through Richmond. I was told that free toors are offered on the hour from 10 am to 4 pm with no reservations needed. Parking is nearly impossible to find in the area, but we managed. Downtown was a ghost town on a Saturday, at mid-day. Most restaurants were closed, even the Subway. The capital building is under renovation and the main West face of the building is obscured by scaffolding and a huge mound of dirt. We saw no way in, so we walked the entire perimeter of the building and never found a way in. No special instructions for entering the building were provided when I emailed. The experience was very disappointing, as my time was limited in the capital and I was not able to tour the building, even when contacting ahead of time. The grounds were very nice with multiple sculptures and some flower beds. I managed to get a few pictures that did not include the...