The Virginia State Capitol houses the General Assembly, which traces back to the House of Burgesses first meeting in 1619. Wikipedia calls it the oldest elected legislative body in North America.
Thomas Jefferson is credited with the overall design, together with French architect Charles-Louis Clérisseau. It is modeled after the Maison Carrée, an ancient Roman temple in Nîmes. Construction began in 1785 and was completed in 1788. This is the eighth building to serve as Virginia's statehouse, mostly because of fires.
From 1861 to 1865 the building was the capitol of the Confederate States of America. In the early 20th century two wings were added, which gave the building its present appearance. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1960.