Biotech and MCV District in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Monumental Church

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 8, 2009

1. Monumental Church Marker

Inscription. The church is a memorial to the 72 people, including Virginia Governor George W. Smith, who died when the Richmond Theatre burned here in 1811. Several survivors owed their lives to the bravery of Gilbert Hunt, a slave blacksmith. A committee chaired by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall raised funds for the church's construction. Designed by Robert Mills and completed in 1814, the octagonal building served as an Episcopal church until 1965 and later as a chapel for the adjacent Medical College of Virginia.

Erected 1992 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number SA-38.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Notable Events • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1811.

Location. 37° 32.319′ N, 77° 25.8′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in the Biotech and MCV District. It is on East Broad Street west of College Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1224 East Broad Street, Richmond VA 23298, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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walking distance of this marker: The Virginia Convention of 1788 (a few steps from this marker); Theatre Fire of December 26, 1811 (a few steps from this marker); Memorial Terrace (a few steps from this marker); First African Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named First African Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Philip's Way (within shouting distance of this marker); Medical College of Virginia (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Philip School of Nursing (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Egyptian Building (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Monumental Church Marker on Broad Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 23, 2014

2. Monumental Church Marker on Broad Street

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 8, 2009

3. Monumental Church Marker on Broad Street.

Monumental Church from Broad Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 8, 2009

4. Monumental Church from Broad Street

Monumental Church Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 8, 2009

5. Monumental Church Monument

Monumental Church Monument Tablet image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 8, 2009

6. Monumental Church Monument Tablet

Octagonal design of Monumental Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 8, 2009

7. Octagonal design of Monumental Church

Monumental Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Meriden Gravure Company

8. Monumental Church

Monumental Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia, Built 1814, Robert Mills, Architect, A Memorial to Victims of the Theatre Fire of 1811. VCU Libraries digital Collection - Rarely Seen Richmond

Richmond, Va. Monumental Church image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

9. Richmond, Va. Monumental Church

Library of Congress [LC-B811- 3369]

National Historic Landmark sign for the church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 21, 2021

10. National Historic Landmark sign for the church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,011 times since then and 88 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on November 24, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 8. submitted on July 4, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 9. submitted on September 10, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 10. submitted on August 23, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.