Richmond was founded in 1737 at the furthest navigable location on the James River. It serves as the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

During the Revolutionary War, several notable events occurred in the city, including Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death" speech in 1775 at St. John's Church, and the passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1779. Richmond served as the capital of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, and many important landmarks remain in the city today, including the Virginia State Capitol and the White House of the Confederacy, among others.

History
In 1775, Patrick Henry delivered his famous, "Give me Liberty or Give me Death," speech in St. John's Church in Richmond that was instrumental for deciding Virginia's (then the largest of the 13 colonies) participation in the First Continental Congress and setting the course for revolution and independence. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, who would soon command the Continental Army, were in attendance at this critical moment on the path to the American Revolution.

In 1786, one of the most significant and influential passages of legislation in American history was passed at the temporary state capital in Richmond, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Written by Thomas Jefferson and sponsored by James Madison, the statute was the basis for the separation of church and state, and led to religious freedom for all Americans as protected in the religion clause in the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. Its importance is recognized annually by the President of The United States, with January 16 established as National Religious Freedom Day.