Capitol Square, Richmond
The area in the center of Richmond that surrounds the Virginia Capitol Building is known as Capitol Square. The Square is roughly bounded between Broad and Bank Streets and Ninth and Governors Streets. Besides being the center of the Commonwealth's governance, the square contains several monuments to prominent Virginians. The Square encompasses roughly 12 acres and is bounded by one of the oldest wrought iron fences in the country, installed in 1818.
The most notable monument is the George Washington Equestrian statue, built in 1858 by Jean-Antoine Houdon. It's a life-size marble statue of Washington atop a horse; you can't miss it. Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, "Stonewall" Jackson, and many other notable Virginians are commemorated in the plaza. The bell tower was built in 1825 for the Virginia Public Gaurd. It is used each day to call the General Assembly into session. There is also a Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, built in 2008, and Voices from the Garden-The Virginia Women's Monument, which was begun in 2018. Adjacent to the Capitol Building is the Executive Mansion, where the governor resides. There are also several departmental headquarters.
When visiting Capitol Square, start your tour at the Capitol Visitors Center off of Bank Street. When you include all of the public buildings and outdoor spaces, Capitol Square contains more than 130 pieces of artwork, from paintings to sculptures. The Square is one of the oldest planned parks in the country, older than Central Park in New York. It was laid out and designed by Maximilian Godefroy in 1816 with geometric precision reminiscent of 18th-century French courtyards. It was further developed in 1850 in the picturesque English style; the result is a modern-day green space that is a pleasure to stroll around and is a central part of the Commonwealth's political and social heart.
The most notable monument is the George Washington Equestrian statue, built in 1858 by Jean-Antoine Houdon. It's a life-size marble statue of Washington atop a horse; you can't miss it. Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, "Stonewall" Jackson, and many other notable Virginians are commemorated in the plaza. The bell tower was built in 1825 for the Virginia Public Gaurd. It is used each day to call the General Assembly into session. There is also a Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, built in 2008, and Voices from the Garden-The Virginia Women's Monument, which was begun in 2018. Adjacent to the Capitol Building is the Executive Mansion, where the governor resides. There are also several departmental headquarters.
When visiting Capitol Square, start your tour at the Capitol Visitors Center off of Bank Street. When you include all of the public buildings and outdoor spaces, Capitol Square contains more than 130 pieces of artwork, from paintings to sculptures. The Square is one of the oldest planned parks in the country, older than Central Park in New York. It was laid out and designed by Maximilian Godefroy in 1816 with geometric precision reminiscent of 18th-century French courtyards. It was further developed in 1850 in the picturesque English style; the result is a modern-day green space that is a pleasure to stroll around and is a central part of the Commonwealth's political and social heart.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Richmond. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Capitol Square on Map
Sight Name: Capitol Square
Sight Location: Richmond, USA (See walking tours in Richmond)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Richmond, USA (See walking tours in Richmond)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Richmond, Virginia
Create Your Own Walk in Richmond
Creating your own self-guided walk in Richmond is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Richmond Introduction Walking Tour
After settling Jamestown in 1607, several expeditions up the James River led to an interest in the area inhabited by the Powhatan Nation. But the first European settlements didn鈥檛 come for more than a hundred years when in 1737, planter William Byrd II had the original town grid laid out.
He named the town 鈥淩ichmond鈥� after an English town. He felt the view of the James River was similar... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
He named the town 鈥淩ichmond鈥� after an English town. He felt the view of the James River was similar... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Maymont and Carytown Walking Tour
Maymont, a picturesque and spacious Victorian estate in Richmond, Virginia, is a popular outdoor attraction nestled in the very heart of the city.
Home to the beautifully landscaped Japanese and Italian gardens surrounding the opulent, historic Maymont Mansion, it represents a remnant from America's Gilded Age. Nature enthusiasts can also explore the Maymont Wildlife Center, home to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Home to the beautifully landscaped Japanese and Italian gardens surrounding the opulent, historic Maymont Mansion, it represents a remnant from America's Gilded Age. Nature enthusiasts can also explore the Maymont Wildlife Center, home to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Historical Homes Walking Tour
Being one of America鈥檚 oldest major cities, the capital of Virginia, Richmond, is rich with historic homes, dating back well into the 1800s and beyond. Those passionate about storied buildings will surely find plenty to their taste here.
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum, The White House of the Confederacy 鈥� home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War, and the John Marshall... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum, The White House of the Confederacy 鈥� home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War, and the John Marshall... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles