Virginia Memory, Library of Virginia
THIS PAGE HAS BEEN FORMATTED FOR EASY PRINTING

THIS DAY IN VIRGINIA HISTORY

Click image for larger view.

April 27, 1870

Capitol, Richmond–1870, Negative A9-6003, Picture Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Carte de Visite &34;State Capitol, Richmond&34; (Scene of Late Calamity), DETAIL, Selden & Co., 1870, Picture Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Capitol, Richmond—1870, Negative A9-6003, Picture Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia Capitol, Richmond—1870, Negative A9-6003, Pi

The Capitol Disaster Occurred

On April 27, 1870, during arguments before the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals about a hotly disputed Richmond mayoral election, the balcony of the third-floor courtroom of the Capitol building collapsed. The floor of the courtroom crashed into the chamber of the House of Delegates one floor below. More than 60 persons died in what came to be known as the Capitol Disaster. Despite some calls to raze and replace the damaged Capitol, the legislators approved funds and repaired the building. This engraved image that appeared in a popular national periodical was obviously created from this unique carte de visite image of the aftermath.