Day 43: Church, Friends, Richmond Capitol Building

 Today's goal was to rest.  We went to church with our dear friends the Cassidys who live about an hour north of Richmond.  After church, we went to lunch at a fun Italian place.  It is so wonderful to connect with dear friends when traveling across the country. 

 We had promised the kids a day of rest, but then realized that the capitol building was open, and had tours on Sundays.  We decided to maximize our time it would be best to go today.  So, amidst their dissatisfaction, we went.  The capitol was amazing.  It is built on a hill and used to overlook the river, although now buildings are in the way.  They recently completed renovations that created new facilities under the hill, so as to preserve the Jeffersonian architecture.  This is one of Jefferson's prize designs.  He even created a model that still exists so that the details were done correctly.
 This statue of Washington is said to be the most exacting copy of himself.  The designer measured every part of him exactingly, and used a mold for his face.


 Old chambers.  This building was somewhat shared during the Civil War as it was both the capital of Virginia, and the capital of the Confederacy.
 Newer senate and house chambers.

 A beautiful African American memorial.


 The governor's mansion.

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