Have you ordered your 2026 Virginia Capitol Ornaments?
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Please note that due to unforeseen logistical challenges, the 2026 ornament will not ship until early December. All other ornaments will ship within 10 days of purchase.
The Bust of James Madison
On March 8, 1930, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation establishing a hall of Virginia-born presidents inside the Rotunda of the Virginia State Capitol. Seven marble busts, funded privately and created by various artists, were authorized to be placed in niches surrounding Jean-Antoine Houdon’s full-length statue of George Washington. The bust of James Madison was sculpted by Frederick William Sievers with funds donated by Mr. Jaquelin P. Taylor, a kinsman of America’s fourth president. A formal unveiling ceremony at the Capitol took place on September 29, 1931, with U.S. Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes appearing as the keynote speaker.
James Madison was one of Virginia’s most influential statesmen and the “Father of the Constitution.” Born in King George County in 1751, he grew up in Orange County, Virginia at “Montpelier,” his lifelong home. Madison carefully studied the histories of past governments and played a pivotal role in shaping the foundation of the United States, serving as a principal architect of the Constitution and author of the U.S. Bill of Rights. He later served as President Thomas Jefferson’s Secretary of State from 1801 to 1809 and as the nation’s fourth president from 1809 to 1817.
The James Madison bust in the Capitol Rotunda commemorates Virginia’s enduring legacy as the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents and recognizes Madison’s contributions to the creation and preservation of the American republic. As part of the Virginia Capitol Foundation’s President Series, this ornament celebrates the history, leadership, and ideals represented by the figures honored in the Capitol’s Rotunda.
The President Series continues the Foundation’s tradition of highlighting the historic treasures of Capitol Square and sharing Virginia’s remarkable story with visitors and collectors.
Please note that due to unforeseen logistical challenges, the 2026 ornament will not ship until early December. All other ornaments will ship within 10 days of purchase.
You can download this order form and mail it back to VCF with your payment or order online.
The Virginia Capitol Foundation has realigned its ornaments into two lines. The Legacy Line which includes The Capitol (2012), Bell Tower (2013), Executive Mansion (2014), Equestrian Statue (2015), Capitol Dome (2019), George Washington Houdon Statue (2024), the Bust of Thomas Jefferson (2025), and the bust of James Madison (2026) represents iconic structures and features of Capitol Square. These ornaments will increase in price to $27 and will be kept in stock.
The other ornaments in our collection will be in the Annual Line. They will be reduced in price to $23. These ornaments represent special occasions (the opening of the new General Assembly Building 2023), an anniversary (Capitol Police 2018), or a special moment (Christmas at the Capitol 2022). They will not be re-ordered when they have sold out.
To kick off the new pricing, you can purchase three Annual Line ornaments for $50.
Order now and be ready for holiday giving!
The official Virginia State Capitol Ornaments are a series of annual collectible ornaments, featuring the historic treasures of Capitol Square. Finished in a brilliant 24k gold, made in the USA (with selected ornaments made exclusively in Virginia), and presented in a handsome gift box, the ornaments are a perfect gift. All proceeds support the Virginia Capitol Foundation’s mission to support the restoration, preservation, and interpretation of the Virginia Capitol, Capitol Square, and Executive Mansion.
The Series
The First Annual Ornament, introduced in 2012, features the Jefferson-designed Capitol, and subsequent ornaments include: the historic Bell Tower (2013), the historic Executive Mansion (2014), the George Washington Equestrian Monument (2015), a commemorative tribute to Thomas Jefferson, Architect of Liberty (2016), “The Fountain at Monument Walk” (2017), Capitol Police 400th Anniversary (2018), Capitol Dome 400th Anniversary of Representative Government (2019), the historic Old City Hall (2020) the Virginia Constitution (2021), Christmas at the Executive Mansion (2022), The General Assembly Building (2023), the George Washington Houdon Statue (2024), and the bust of Thomas Jefferson (2025). All of these ornaments are available for sale, along with the latest ornament.
