Virginia Capitol Foundation

Today on the floor, my colleagues and I recognized Susan Clarke Schaar, Clerk of the Senate, for her 50 years of service to the Commonwealth. To put that in perspective for local folks, Ms. Schaar started working for the Senate during Doc Truban’s first term!

A number of Senators along with Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears praised the Clerk and her outstanding staff for their hard work, not only during session, but throughout the year. They really keep this place running!

A donation from the Senators will be made in Susan’s name to the Virginia Capitol Foundation to recognize everything she’s done for our state legislature.

To order a Virginia Capitol Foundation ornament, please visit https://virginiacapitol.gov/index.php/the-virginia-capitol-foundation/ and click on "purchase an ornament".

The ornaments have arrived! If you have already ordered the 2023 General Assembly Building Limited Edition Ornament, it will ship soon. If you have not ordered your ornament, please visit https://virginiacapitol.gov/index.php/the-virginia-capitol-foundation/.

The 2015 ornament featuring the Virginia George Washington Monument will be retired this year. There are only 75 of these ornaments in stock. To order yours, please visit www.virginiacapitol.gov.

Today, the General Assembly will celebrate completion of the building with a dedication ceremony. Following that event, the building will be open to members of the public. “Planning for this building started many years ago, and it’s been wonderful to see it rise on the footprint of the old General Assembly Building and incorporate a portion of the historic 1912 building façade into a modern legislative office space,” said Sen. Mamie E. Locke, Chair, Senate Rules Committee.

Did You Know? The Virginia State Capitol is one of only eleven Capitols in the United States without an external dome – the others are Capitols of Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee.

The State Capitol does have an internal dome. It was featured as the 2019 Virginia Capitol Ornament. https://virginiacapitol.gov/index.php/the-official-state-capitol-ornaments-2021/

The fencing around the Capitol is down, but work continues on Capitol Square. The Thomas Jefferson designed Capitol was considered finished enough to house the Virginia General Assembly in 1788. The 235 year old Virginia Capitol is the second oldest state capitol building still in use in the US. Maryland's state capitol is a few years older than Virginia's.

In September 1851, a long anticipated circular fountain with a water jet is installed in the southwest corner of Capitol Square, drawing from the city waterworks for its source. A similar fountain for the southeast corner of the square is in place by June 1855, when reported to be out of order. The two present day fountains in the lower corners of the square are presumably on the same locations.

The 2017 Virginia Capital Ornament honors the beautiful Fountain at Monument Walk on Capitol Square.

A new electronic voting machine in the House Chamber is reported to be fully installed for use during the 1926 session on this day in 1924. The Senate begins using an electronic voting machine in its chamber in January 1930.