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Old City Hall (Richmond, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Old City Hall, known formerly as City Hall, is the former city hall of Richmond, Virginia
that was designed by Elijah E. Myers
. It served as City Hall from its completion in 1894 through the 1970s. The building occupies its own city block in downtown Richmond, bounded by 10th and 11th Streets to the west and east, and Capitol Street and East Broad Street to the south. The building is executed in a meticulous Gothic Revival style.
surrounded by four levels of cloister-like arcades, linked by a grad staircase. The building housed city offices and courts. Granite was locally obtained from quarries along the James River
near Petersburg
, and was shaped by workers under the direction of subcontractor James Netherwood. Iron work was by Asa Snyder.
and Maximilian Godefroy
and completed in 1818 was demolished because it was considered structurally deficient. Also demolished were the Edmund Randolph House, a circa 1800 octagonal-endedd house, and the 1853 First Presbyterian Church, which was moved off the site in 1873. A design competition was held in 1883, and ground was broken for the new structure in 1886, with costs rising from a projected $300,000 to $1,318,349.19. Myers was a well-respected architect who had designed the state capitols of Colorado
, Idaho
, Michigan
and Texas
. Cost overruns were attributed to the massive and ornamented nature of the design. By 1915, with the popularity of the Beaux-Arts style, proposals were made to demolish City Hall to create a mall aligned with the northern side of the Virginia State Capitol
. Renewed demolition threats surfaced in the 1970s, but the building was restored in the early 1980s and is used for offices.
The Old City Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on October 1, 1969 and was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark
in 1971.
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
that was designed by Elijah E. Myers
Elijah E. Myers
Elijah E. Myers was a leading architect of government buildings in the latter half of the 19th century, and the only architect to design the capitol buildings of three U.S. states, the Michigan State Capitol, the Texas State Capitol, and the Colorado State Capitol. He also designed buildings in...
. It served as City Hall from its completion in 1894 through the 1970s. The building occupies its own city block in downtown Richmond, bounded by 10th and 11th Streets to the west and east, and Capitol Street and East Broad Street to the south. The building is executed in a meticulous Gothic Revival style.
Description
While the overall composition of the building is generally symmetrical, the 195 feet (59.4 m) clock tower on the left side of the principal facade gives an impression of asymmetry. The four main levels are executed in gray granite. The interior centers around a large skylit atriumAtrium
Atrium may refer to:*Atrium , a large open space within a building usually with a glass roof*Atrium , microscopic air sacs in lungs*Atrium , an anatomical structure of the heart* Atrium of the ventricular system of the brain...
surrounded by four levels of cloister-like arcades, linked by a grad staircase. The building housed city offices and courts. Granite was locally obtained from quarries along the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
near Petersburg
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
, and was shaped by workers under the direction of subcontractor James Netherwood. Iron work was by Asa Snyder.
History
The Old City Hall occupies a site that previously accommodated three notable buildings, all demolished for the new structure. The first City Hall, designed by Robert MillsRobert Mills
Robert Mills may refer to:*Robert Mills , American architect*Robert Mills , American physicist*Bob Mills , Canadian politician*Robert P...
and Maximilian Godefroy
Maximilian Godefroy
Maximilian Godefroy was an architect born about 1770 in France. During the French Revolution he fought on the Royalist side, was imprisoned in the fortress of Bellegarde, then released about 1805 and allowed to come to the United States. He later relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, where became an...
and completed in 1818 was demolished because it was considered structurally deficient. Also demolished were the Edmund Randolph House, a circa 1800 octagonal-endedd house, and the 1853 First Presbyterian Church, which was moved off the site in 1873. A design competition was held in 1883, and ground was broken for the new structure in 1886, with costs rising from a projected $300,000 to $1,318,349.19. Myers was a well-respected architect who had designed the state capitols of Colorado
Colorado State Capitol
The Colorado State Capitol Building, located at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado, is the home of the Colorado General Assembly and the offices of the Governor of Colorado and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. The building is intentionally reminiscent of the United States Capitol. Designed...
, Idaho
Idaho State Capitol
In 1863, Lewiston, Idaho was the original Idaho State Capitol site until Boise was made the capitol in 1890 which is also when President Benjamin Harrison signed Idaho into statehood. The story behind Boise becoming the capitol is government workers sneaked in and stole the state seal from Lewiston...
, Michigan
Michigan State Capitol
The Michigan State Capitol is the building housing the legislative and executive branches of the government of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in the state capital of Lansing in Ingham County...
and Texas
Texas State Capitol
The Texas State Capitol is located in Austin, Texas, and is the fourth building to be the house of Texas government in Austin. It houses the chambers of the Texas Legislature and the office of the governor of Texas. It was designed originally during 1881 by architect Elijah E. Myers, and was...
. Cost overruns were attributed to the massive and ornamented nature of the design. By 1915, with the popularity of the Beaux-Arts style, proposals were made to demolish City Hall to create a mall aligned with the northern side of the Virginia State Capitol
Virginia State Capitol
The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of state government in the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Richmond, the third capital of Virginia. It houses the oldest legislative body in the United States, the Virginia General Assembly...
. Renewed demolition threats surfaced in the 1970s, but the building was restored in the early 1980s and is used for offices.
The Old City Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on October 1, 1969 and was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1971.
External llinks
- Old City Hall at National Park Service driving itinerary
- Richmond City Hall, 1001 East Broad Street, Richmond, Independent City, VA at the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
(HABS)