First Capitol Building in America - Williamsburg, VA
Posted by: 
archway
N 37° 16.284 W 076° 41.596
18S E 349870 N 4126324
The original building at this location, completed in 1705, was the first Capitol building of any kind in America.
Waymark Code: WM7A1Z
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 09/25/2009
Views: 22
In 1699, after the Jamestown Statehouse had burned down for the third time, the government of the Colony of Virginia was moved to Williamsburg, known at the time as Middle Plantation. The new building in Williamsburg, which was completed in 1705, was the first building in America to be referred to as a Capitol. This time no fire places were included in the blueprints, but after complaints of dampness, they were installed in 1723. Consequently, in 1747, the building was destroyed by fire. The Capitol was rebuilt in 1753, but in 1780, government activity was moved further inland to Richmond. British troops left the Williamsburg Capitol in shambles, and the building was stripped of materials for other construction. The Capitol was reconstructed again in the 1920's after Colonial Williamsburg was established. This building, which adheres closely to the 1705 design, is one of the main buildings in Colonial Williamsburg.
FIRST - Classification Variable: Place or Location
Date of FIRST: 04/21/1704
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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