| Right: A
portion of a stereoview photo taken in the early 1900's, showing
Confederate Veterans on the driveway beside the North Side of the Capitol. This photo shows a rare view of the steps extending from the connecting "hyphen" between the main part of the building and the Senate wing on the right. These steps were removed in the 1960's. Also, the driveway has changed so that a grassy area is immediately adjacent to the building. |
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May 1, 1780 | Richmond becomes capital of Virginia | |
| 1785 | Planning for Capitol Building begins | ||
| August 15, 1785 | Cornerstone laid (exact location unknown) | ||
| May 14, 1796 | Houdon's Statue of George Washington installed in Rotunda | ||
| 1813 | Governor's Mansion first occupied [more] | ||
| 1824 | Bell Tower constructed in southwestern corner of Capitol Square | ||
| February 22, 1850 | Laying of Cornerstone for Equestrian Statue of George Washington; President Zachary Taylor attended | ||
| February 22, 1858 | Equestrian Statue of George Washington unveiled in Capitol Square [photo] | ||
| 1861-1865 | Congress of the Confederate States meets in the Capitol building | ||
| April 27, 1870 | "Capitol Disaster" occurs when an upper floor gives way, killing 62 and injuring dozens | ||
| October 26, 1875 | Dedication of Statue to Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson in Capitol Square | ||
| 1904-1906 | Capitol renovated; wings added; steps installed at South Portico | ||
| February 22, 1924 | Dedication of the State Office Building (now the Washington Building) [more] | ||
| March 8, 1946 | Sir Winston Churchill addresses a Joint Session of the General Assembly [more] | ||
| January 1978 | House and Senate first occupy new General Assembly Building at Ninth and Broad Streets | ||
| November 11, 1983 | Dedication of Colgate W. Darden Memorial Garden along northern side of square [more] | ||
| August 18, 1985 | 200th Anniversary celebration of laying of cornerstone of the Capitol building [program] | ||
| 2004 | Renovation and expansion project begins | ||
| January 2006 | Dedication of Visitor's Entrance and Capitol Expansion | ||
| April 4, 2007 | House and Senate convene in restored chambers for first time since 2005 | ||
| May 1, 2007 | Re-dedication of Capitol and opening of Visitor's Entrance and Capitol Expansion | ||
| May 3, 2007 | Queen Elizabeth II visits the Capitol and addresses the General Assembly | ||
| February 22, 2008 | 150th Anniversary ceremony for Equestrian Statue of George Washington [more] | ||
| July 21, 2008 | Unveiling of Civil Rights Monument on Capitol grounds [more] | ||
| August 18, 2008 | Unveiling of bust of Meriwether Lewis in the Old Hall of the House of Delegates [more] | ||
| March 22, 2010 | Unveiling of bust of Andrew Lewis in the Old Hall of the House of Delegates | ||
