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

Memorial Terrace

Monumental Church

Photographed By Bernard Fisher

1. Memorial Terrace

Inscription.

Memorial Terrace. Monumental Church. 1788 This site was a part of the Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts where the Virginia Convention of 1788 voted to approve the proposed U.S. Constitution on June 25th. , 1806 Richmond Theatre opened in three-story brick building., 1811 Theatre destroyed by fire on December 26th claiming 72 victims, including Governor George W. Smith and former U.S. Senator Abraham Venable. Dr. James McCaw and slave, Gilbert Hunt, saved many from the burning building., 1812 U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall headed the building committee to raise funds to erect a memorial on site., 1812 Robert Mills, first native born American architect and architecture student of Thomas Jefferson, designated the octagonal church with a Delorme dome., 1812-184 Construction of Monumental Church led by master builder, Isaac Sturdevant from Boston., 1814 First Episcopal service of Monumental Church held on May 4th., 1824 Marquis de Lafayette honored on October 31st at special church service., 1845-1850 Altar introduced, central pulpit removed, and upper windows in sanctuary enlarged., 1873-1874 Sunday school building added., 1878-1901 Stained glass windows installed, including one Tiffany stained glass window., 1899 Mural of the Resurrection in the apse and fresco of Angel Gabriel on the dome painted., 1919 Virginia Commonwealth University, formerly Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health, moved to church vestry., 1965 Church deconsecrated and deeded to Medical College of Virginia Foundation., 1971 Designated as National Historic Landmark by National Park Service., 1976-1981 Medical College of Virginia Foundation begins restoration returning to the original Mills design., 1976 Sunday school building demolished., 1983 Medical College of Virginia Foundation deeded church to Historic Richmond., 1985-1987 Stained glass windows replaced with clear windows to replicate Mills design and roof restored with copper dome., 2003-2012 Historic Richmond completed $3.5 million restoration including replica of monument., 2014 Celebration of 200th anniversary, installation of Memorial Terrace and restoration of marbleized altar..

1788
This site was a part of the Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts where the Virginia Convention of 1788 voted to approve the proposed U.S. Constitution on June 25th.

1806
Richmond Theatre opened in three-story brick building.

1811
Theatre destroyed by fire on December 26th claiming 72 victims, including Governor George W. Smith and former U.S. Senator Abraham Venable. Dr. James McCaw and slave, Gilbert Hunt, saved many from the burning building.

1812
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall headed the building committee to raise funds to erect a memorial on site.

1812
Robert Mills, first native born American architect and architecture student of Thomas Jefferson, designated the octagonal church with a Delorme dome.

1812-184
Construction of Monumental Church led by master builder, Isaac Sturdevant from Boston.

1814
First Episcopal service of Monumental Church held on May 4th.

1824
Marquis de Lafayette honored on October 31st at special church service.

1845-1850
Altar introduced, central pulpit removed, and upper windows in sanctuary enlarged.

1873-1874
Sunday school building added.

1878-1901
Stained

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glass windows installed, including one Tiffany stained glass window.

1899
Mural of the Resurrection in the apse and fresco of Angel Gabriel on the dome painted.

1919
Virginia Commonwealth University, formerly Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health, moved to church vestry.

1965
Church deconsecrated and deeded to Medical College of Virginia Foundation.

1971
Designated as National Historic Landmark by National Park Service.

1976-1981
Medical College of Virginia Foundation begins restoration returning to the original Mills design.

1976
Sunday school building demolished.

1983
Medical College of Virginia Foundation deeded church to Historic Richmond.

1985-1987
Stained glass windows replaced with clear windows to replicate Mills design and roof restored with copper dome.

2003-2012
Historic Richmond completed $3.5 million restoration including replica of monument.

2014
Celebration of 200th anniversary, installation of Memorial Terrace and restoration of marbleized altar.

Erected 2014 by Historic Richmond.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion

Memorial Terrace at Monumental Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 23, 2014

2. Memorial Terrace at Monumental Church

• Disasters. In addition, it is included in the Lafayette’s Farewell Tour series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 2002.

Location. 37° 32.331′ N, 77° 25.803′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in the Biotech and MCV District. Marker is at the intersection of East Broad Street and College Street, on the right when traveling west on East Broad Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1224 East Broad Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Theatre Fire of December 26, 1811 (a few steps from this marker); The Virginia Convention of 1788 (a few steps from this marker); Monumental Church (a few steps from 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 (within shouting distance of this marker); Egyptian Building (within shouting distance of this marker); First African Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 23, 2014

3. Memorial Terrace

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 462 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 24, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.