The Capitol at Colonial Williamsburg — A Gateway to Revolution

Virginia’s original colonial capital was Jamestown, where the House of Burgesses first convened in 1619.

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In 1698, fire destroyed the Jamestown Statehouse — and not for the first time. The Burgesses decided to move the colony’s government to Middle Plantation, soon to be renamed Williamsburg.

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Williamsburg’s first Capitol was built during 1701-05. The brick building featured a distinctive open central arcade or “piazza”.

It hosted the Burgesses, as well as the Governor’s Council and the General Court, until fire destroyed it in 1747.

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The Palladian second Capitol at Williamsburg was built during 1751-53 on the foundations of the first.

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The building was last used as a capitol on December 24, 1779. Richmond became the fledgling state’s capital soon after.

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The abandoned capitol’s west wing was torn down for its bricks in 1793; the east burned in 1832. In 1881, the last above-ground traces of its historic halls were removed from the lot.

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