White House of the Confederacy, Richmond (must see)
Tucked away in the Court End neighborhood not far from Capitol Square is the Jefferson Davis Executive Mansion. During the Civil War, the house was considered the Confederate States of America's counterpart to the White House in Washington, DC. Jefferson Davis was the sole president of the Confederacy, and he lived here from 1861 to 1865.
The house was built in 1818 and is a gray stucco mansion built in the neoclassical style. Robert Mills designed it for John Brockenbrough, president of the Bank of Virginia. Being so close to the State Capitol, the neighborhood was full of high-level politicians and wealthy townspeople. Brockenbrough sold in 1844, and the house changed hands several times. It was eventually sold to the city, who rented it to the Confederate government for use as the Executive Mansion.
The Jefferson family and their staff abandoned the house as Richmond was evacuated in 1865. The house was taken intact, and President Lincoln toured the home and held several meetings with local officials. Lincoln spent several hours touring the home, but he did not go beyond the downstairs floor as he felt doing so would be an invasion of privacy.
When the city announced that they planned to destroy the building in 1890, the Confederate Memorial Literary Society was formed to save the mansion. It became the Museum of the Confederacy for over 80 years. After a complete restoration in the 1980s that returned the entire structure to its wartime appearance, the building became known as the White House of the Confederacy and is part of the American Civil War Museum, which is located off-site. Today the house stands alone, surrounded by the VCU medical campus.
Why You Should Visit:
The house has been masterfully restored to appear as it did during wartime. The exhibit House of the Lost Cause explores the history of the Confederacy through Jefferson Davis and his daughter, Winnie Davis, with some of their personal items on display.
Tips:
Plan to spend about 45 minutes or so touring the mansion. Since you're visiting the area, consider combining this tour with a visit to The Valentine, Richmond's history museum.
The house was built in 1818 and is a gray stucco mansion built in the neoclassical style. Robert Mills designed it for John Brockenbrough, president of the Bank of Virginia. Being so close to the State Capitol, the neighborhood was full of high-level politicians and wealthy townspeople. Brockenbrough sold in 1844, and the house changed hands several times. It was eventually sold to the city, who rented it to the Confederate government for use as the Executive Mansion.
The Jefferson family and their staff abandoned the house as Richmond was evacuated in 1865. The house was taken intact, and President Lincoln toured the home and held several meetings with local officials. Lincoln spent several hours touring the home, but he did not go beyond the downstairs floor as he felt doing so would be an invasion of privacy.
When the city announced that they planned to destroy the building in 1890, the Confederate Memorial Literary Society was formed to save the mansion. It became the Museum of the Confederacy for over 80 years. After a complete restoration in the 1980s that returned the entire structure to its wartime appearance, the building became known as the White House of the Confederacy and is part of the American Civil War Museum, which is located off-site. Today the house stands alone, surrounded by the VCU medical campus.
Why You Should Visit:
The house has been masterfully restored to appear as it did during wartime. The exhibit House of the Lost Cause explores the history of the Confederacy through Jefferson Davis and his daughter, Winnie Davis, with some of their personal items on display.
Tips:
Plan to spend about 45 minutes or so touring the mansion. Since you're visiting the area, consider combining this tour with a visit to The Valentine, Richmond's history museum.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Richmond. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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White House of the Confederacy on Map
Sight Name: White House of the Confederacy
Sight Location: Richmond, USA (See walking tours in Richmond)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Richmond, USA (See walking tours in Richmond)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Richmond, Virginia
Create Your Own Walk in Richmond
Creating your own self-guided walk in Richmond is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Richmond Introduction Walking Tour
After settling Jamestown in 1607, several expeditions up the James River led to an interest in the area inhabited by the Powhatan Nation. But the first European settlements didn鈥檛 come for more than a hundred years when in 1737, planter William Byrd II had the original town grid laid out.
He named the town 鈥淩ichmond鈥� after an English town. He felt the view of the James River was similar... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
He named the town 鈥淩ichmond鈥� after an English town. He felt the view of the James River was similar... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Maymont and Carytown Walking Tour
Maymont, a picturesque and spacious Victorian estate in Richmond, Virginia, is a popular outdoor attraction nestled in the very heart of the city.
Home to the beautifully landscaped Japanese and Italian gardens surrounding the opulent, historic Maymont Mansion, it represents a remnant from America's Gilded Age. Nature enthusiasts can also explore the Maymont Wildlife Center, home to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Home to the beautifully landscaped Japanese and Italian gardens surrounding the opulent, historic Maymont Mansion, it represents a remnant from America's Gilded Age. Nature enthusiasts can also explore the Maymont Wildlife Center, home to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Historical Homes Walking Tour
Being one of America鈥檚 oldest major cities, the capital of Virginia, Richmond, is rich with historic homes, dating back well into the 1800s and beyond. Those passionate about storied buildings will surely find plenty to their taste here.
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum, The White House of the Confederacy 鈥� home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War, and the John Marshall... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum, The White House of the Confederacy 鈥� home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War, and the John Marshall... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles