RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia Museum of History and Culture has unveiled its official Christmas ornament, with a special tie to the state's 250th anniversary. The museum revealed the 2026 ornament — the 250th anniversary of Virginia's establishment as a commonwealth — on Wednesday, Oct. 7, featuring the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's reconstructed Capitol building, where the 1st Virginia General Assembly met in 1776. According to the museum, during that session, Virginia citizens in the bicameral legislature elected their own leadership and a representative to the Continental Congress and began rewriting the commonwealth's laws from scratch, among other monumental decisions. This year's ornament marks the 9th year of the VMHC tradition, which began in 2018. "This is a great way for us to highlight different aspects of Virginia history, and a great way to give a gift to Virginia history lovers," said VMHC Director of Public Programs Sam Florer. "It's a great way for us to bring Virginia history into the holidays, into people's homes. And we highly encourage folks to collect them all." The back side of the ornament features a seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, "principally designed" by George Wythe and adopted a day after the Declaration of Independence, the VMHC said. (Paul Nevadomski/8News)(Paul Nevadomski/8News)(Paul Nevadomski/8News) History lovers and Virginians can visit the VMHC gift shop in person and online to shop the ornament and other items in its collection relating to the original Capitol building. ...read more read less