contractors working for the Commonwealth of Virginia removed the final three Confederate statues from Capitol Square in Richmond, marking the end of publicly displayed Confederate monuments on statehouse grounds. The operation cleared out statues of Confederate Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, Gov. William “Extra Billy” Smith, and Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire, bringing a definitive close to a contentious chapter of public iconography in the commonwealth’s capital.
Clearing the Last Vestiges From Capitol Square
Unlike the dramatic public spectacles that accompanied the removal of monuments along Richmond’s Monument Avenue in 2020 and 2021, Friday’s operation unfolded behind tall metal fences.
The removal targeted the final three monuments remaining under the direct responsibility of the General Assembly. These included the Stonewall Jackson statue unveiled in 1875, alongside the 1904 monument to Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire—Jackson’s surgeon—and the 1906 statue honoring Gov. William “Extra Billy” Smith, who served before and during the Civil War. Curator Christina Vida at The Valentine Museum confirmed that the state no longer holds any publicly displayed monuments to the Confederate States of America.
Legislative Battles and Budgetary Funding
While local authorities began pulling down city-owned monuments years ago, state property remained protected until a significant shift in Richmond politics. For generations, state law strictly prevented localities from removing war memorials. Dolores McQuinn (D–Richmond) in 2020.
Even after that legislative hurdle cleared, statehouse grounds held onto their statues due to lingering disagreements between the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate over financing. The logjam finally broke when the General Assembly passed a fiscal 2027–28 spending plan that went into effect on July 1, allocating $1.8 million specifically to fund the removal project.
Reflecting on the milestone, state Sen. Mike Jones (D–Chesterfield)—who previously served on the Richmond City Council during the 2020 removals—noted the historical resonance of the day. “It’s kind of like deja vu all over again, right?” Jones asked, emphasizing that watching the structures come down carried direct and indirect significance for Black Virginians and the broader public alike.
Stewardship and What Remains on Capitol Grounds
With the physical removal complete, the bronze figures have found a new institutional home. According to a statement from the Department of General Services, the commonwealth gifted the monuments to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. The foundation announced it would assume stewardship of the works as part of its ongoing mission to preserve and interpret Virginia’s historic landscapes and cultural resources.
As these Lost Cause monuments transition into historical storage and preservation trusts, the landscape of Capitol Square continues to evolve. Visitors walking the grounds will now find public art dedicated to broader chapters of Virginia’s history, including a memorial honoring the civil rights movement, an earthwork monument recognizing Virginia’s Indian Tribes, and a dedicated installation highlighting the state’s women and women political activists.
While the state-owned statues are gone, reminders of the era persist in specific historical contexts. For instance, the 1870 Memorial to the Confederate Dead remains on display at Oakwood Cemetery, a city-owned Civil War-era resting place. Yet, the clearing of Capitol Square signals a profound visual shift for the seat of Virginia government. How do you view the transition of these controversial monuments from public squares to historical preservation trusts? Share your thoughts below.
