“People. Building. Democracy” Inside Virginia’s Capitol

As legislative processes unfold inside the Virginia State Capitol building, People. Building. Democracy. reconnects visitors with those who enact the complex and vital work of government. The experience features three dynamic installations that invite the public to engage with the foundational individuals, spaces, and systems that have shaped Virginia’s government for more than two centuries.

“People” surrounds the gallery with 250 custom-made watercolor portraits depicting lawmakers, civic leaders, builders, advocates, and notable visitors connected to the Capitol’s history.

Installed along a passage regularly used by legislators, two digital interactive stations allow visitors to explore the stories associated with each of these key figures.

A first-of-its-kind 3D printed LED video table with scale models of the Capitol campus serves as a unique storytelling platform in “Building.”

Animated maps, archival imagery, and layered diagrams trace the development of the site from the late eighteenth century to the present while also acting as a guide for visitors of today.

“Democracy” is illustrated through a gravity-driven ball machine that traces the possible paths a bill may take as it moves through committees, debate, and voting within Virginia’s bicameral legislature, with steps clearly also identified by graphic elements and interpretive panels.

By illuminating the many forces that shape Virginia’s legislature, the experiential installations reframe democracy not as something distant or abstract, but as something built through participation. At this important moment in the United States, People. Building. Democracy. reinforces a shared sense of civic ownership and agency among all who visit.