Crews removed three Confederate-linked statues from Capitol Square in Richmond on Friday, eliminating the remaining monuments on the Capitol grounds that commemorate men who served the Confederacy. The action follows language included in the 2026 state budget that directed the statues to be gifted to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.
Which monuments were removed
The three sculptures taken down depicted figures who had historical ties to the Confederacy:
- Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson
- William “Extra Billy” Smith — two-time Virginia governor and former Confederate general
- Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire — Confederate Army surgeon
| Statue | Role | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson | Confederate general | Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (to be placed at appropriate battlefield sites) |
| William "Extra Billy" Smith | Governor; former Confederate general | Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation |
| Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire | Confederate Army surgeon | Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation |
Why the removal happened now
The statues were removed pursuant to a provision in this year’s state budget that directed they be gifted to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. The foundation’s leadership said the monuments will be relocated to battlefield sites in the Shenandoah Valley where the organization said they are more appropriate.
"Preservation is more about the future than the past, and ensuring the preservation of the Capitol Square monuments is a part of that clear vision," said David Walker, CEO of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.
The push to remove Confederate monuments from public spaces in Richmond traces back to the protests and civic debates of 2020, when several statues were toppled during Black Lives Matter demonstrations and municipal and state authorities re-examined public commemorations tied to the Confederacy. The most recent legislative effort came during the 2026 General Assembly session, when State Senator Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) introduced legislation addressing Confederate iconography on Capitol Square.
State Senator Mike Jones (D-Richmond), who previously served on Richmond City Council when some statues began to come down, commented on the timing and broader meaning of the removals, saying the change reflected how the commonwealth is choosing to see itself moving forward.
Local implications and next steps
With the removal of these three figures, there are no longer statues on Capitol Square honoring people who served in the Confederacy. City and state officials will now need to manage the logistical and interpretive steps involved in transferring custody of the monuments and determining their new contexts in the Shenandoah Valley.
- Historic interpretation: The foundation has said the statues will be placed at battlefield sites where they may be accompanied by broader historical context; how that interpretation will be presented is to be determined.
- Public reaction: The removals mark another milestone in an ongoing municipal and statewide conversation about how public spaces reflect community values.
- Legal and logistical work: Agencies involved must coordinate transport, storage, and installation at recipient sites, as well as any conservation work required.
Officials from the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation stated that their mission includes placing artifacts and monuments in settings that relate to their historical subjects. The foundation's CEO framed the move as part of a preservation strategy aimed at connecting history to present and future understanding.
For Richmond residents, the change alters the visual and symbolic landscape around the state Capitol, a site that has long been central to civic life in the city and commonwealth. How the removal will affect tourism, education and civic rituals on Capitol Square remains to be seen, but the action completes a years-long process of re-evaluating Confederate commemoration in Virginia’s capital.
The legislative and budgetary processes that enabled this transfer highlight one avenue by which statewide authorities can address contested monuments. As the statues are moved to the Shenandoah Valley, officials and historians will likely continue discussions about context, commemoration and how best to present difficult aspects of the past.
