In the early twentieth century, a solitary stone marker was the only sign that Virginia’s colonial Capitol buildings had once stood on those grounds. Colonial Williamsburg acquired this land at the end of Duke of Gloucester Street in 1928.
The Foundation chose to reconstruct the first Capitol, which stood there from 1705 until 1747, because its architecture was more well-documented. Construction began in October 1931.
The restored Capitol was completed in early 1934.
On February 24, 1934, the day after the building opened to the public, the Virginia Assembly held a special session in the House of Burgesses chamber. On that occasion, John D. Rockefeller Jr., who funded the restoration, told the legislators:
Ever will the thought of this reconstructed Capitol move us profoundly, for here as Councilor or Burgess sat nearly every great Virginian of the 18th century; here were spoken words that will never die; here plans were laid and actions taken of untold moment in the building of this nation. What a temptation to sit in silence and let the past speak to us of those great patriots whose voices once resounded in these halls and whose far-seeing wisdom, high courage and unselfish devotion to the common good will ever be an inspiration to noble living. To their memory the rebirth of this building is forever dedicated.1
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Sources
- Quoted in Howard Dearstyne, “Capitol Architectural Report, Block 8 Building 11,” (1954) Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library.