Virginia State Capitol

Perched on Shockoe Hill at the heart of downtown, the Virginia State Capitol is among the most important buildings in American architectural history. Thomas Jefferson, then in Paris as American minister, drew on the Maison Carree, a well-preserved Roman temple in Nimes, France, to design a building that would announce the young republic's ideals in stone and stucco. The result, completed in the late 1780s, helped launch the American taste for classical civic architecture and became a template for statehouses and courthouses across the country. Inside, the General Assembly still meets, making it the home of the oldest continuous legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, a lineage that runs back to the House of Burgesses at Jamestown in 1619. Visitors enter through an underground visitor center added during a major renovation and expansion that finished in the 2000s, then rise into the historic rotunda, where Jean-Antoine Houdon's life-size marble statue of George Washington, sculpted from life, stands as the centerpiece. Busts of the other Virginia-born presidents ring the room, and guides lead free tours that explain how the building works, who has stood in the chambers, and how the Capitol was used during the Civil War, when it served as the seat of the Confederate Congress.

Take the tour rather than wandering alone. The guides are well briefed, and the stories make the architecture come alive: the old House chamber where Robert E. Lee accepted command of Virginia's forces in 1861, the Senate and House galleries when the legislature is in session, and the small details such as the Jefferson-era proportions and the later wings that were added to keep up with a growing government.

Security screening at the entrance is routine, so allow a few extra minutes, bring photo ID if asked, and expect to check large bags. Tour availability and hours depend on the legislative calendar, which is busiest in winter and early spring, so check the Capitol's own visitor information before you set out.

Outside, Capitol Square is a green, tree-shaded park that makes a pleasant loop on its own. You will find the Executive Mansion, the oldest continuously occupied governor's residence in the country, along with the Bell Tower, the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial and the Virginia Women's Monument, which honors women from across the state's history. The grounds are free and open from morning into the evening, and they sit within easy walking distance of the Black History Museum, Jackson Ward and the cluster of downtown restaurants around Main Street.

Pair the Capitol with other downtown history: the Virginia Museum of History and Culture is a short drive away, and the American Civil War Museum at Tredegar sits on the riverfront below. If you only have one morning for history, start here at opening time, finish before lunch, and walk down to Shockoe Slip for a meal.

Families with older children will find the tour a good civics lesson, and the visual drama of the rotunda tends to hold teenage attention longer than expected. It is one of the best free experiences in Richmond, and one of the few places where architecture, politics and living government all share the same room.

Dress comfortably and expect to remove bulky items at screening. Visitors with mobility needs can use the elevators from the underground entrance, and guides can tailor the route if you ask. The gift shop in the visitor center offers books and souvenirs, and the nearby cafes are good for a post-tour coffee.