We finally left North Carolina after about 6 weeks. We are in Virginia and spent the first part of this week in the capital Richmond. We went to the visitor center and found lots to do. We decided our first stop would be the Capital itself. In 1785, Thomas Jefferson was serving his country as Ambassador to France. Inspired by the Maison Carree in Nimes, France, and based on classical Roman temple design, Mr. Jefferson's Capital, atop Shockoe Hill, is made of brick and covered in stucco. The Ionic columns on the South Portico contain the original pine tree center posts. The cornerstone was laid in 1785 when Patrick Henry was the Commonwealth's seventh governor.
We took a tour that started underground and took us through this magnificent building.
On the second floor there was a great view of a statue of George Washington by Houdon.
In 1785, Houdon visited the General at Mount Vernon, and took detailed body measurements and made sketches.He coated Washington's face with oil and covered it in plaster to make a life mask. The completed life-size statue stands 6'2" tall and is considered a perfect likeness.
The old House of Delegates Chambers is where the Bill of Rights was ratified into the U.S. Constitution, Aaron Burr was tried and acquitted of treason, and Robert E. Less assumed command of the Virginia forces.
The Senate Chambers was originally a courtroom. Displayed "The Arrival of the First Permanent English Settlers Off Jamestown Island May 13, 1607" by Griffith Baily Coale, and "Storming of a British Redoubt at Yorktown by American Troops" by Eugene Louis Lami.
We had lunch at one of the many street vendors. None were Weight Watchers friendly, but that's what is good about Weight Watchers. You have flex points for special times.
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