Tour the White House of the Confederacy | 45 minutes

Available to groups with 10 or more students
Tour this grand home that served as Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s executive mansion from 1861-1865. Students explore the lives of the Davis family while learning about servant life, political events, social customs, and period decorating styles.

Note: We are sorry, but due to the age of the building, the White House of the Confederacy is not ADA compliant. Please let our Education Specialist know if you have a student with special needs, and we will try to arrange a tour of the Museum’s collections storage area.
SOLs: VS.1, VS.7, USI.1, USI.9, VUS.1 & VUS.7

Tour the Museum’s exhibits | 30 minutes

A group of 15 or more students is required for a guided museum tour
A 30-minute guided tour is offered to 4th-6th grades. Beginning with a review of the causes of the war—slavery, states’ rights, and regional differences—trained educators guide students through the Museum’s main exhibit, which highlights the major battles and leaders of the Civil War. Other themes include the Emancipation Proclamation and the formation of the United States Colored Troops. Students view artifacts belonging to generals Robert E. Lee, “Stonewall” Jackson, and J.E.B. Stuart as well as the effects of the common solider. Students are encouraged to ask and answer questions, creating an interactive learning experience.
Middle and high school students explore the exhibits independently with the aid of questions.
SOLs: VS.1, VS.7, USI.1, USI.9, VUS.1 & VUS.7

The following questions have been developed to enrich the experience of groups independently touring the museum.  Print out the set of questions that corresponds to your students' grade level. Then, make copies for your class. Students will need to bring a pencil (pens are not allowed) as well as a clipboard or notebook to bear down upon. Click here for a brief description of current exhibitions.

Elementary School Questions
Questions for Exhibits
Answers for Exhibits

Middle School Questions
Questions for Exhibits
Answers for Exhibits

High School Questions
Questions for Exhibits
Answers for Exhibits
 

African Americans:  From Slavery to Emancipation | 30 minutes

A group of 15 or more students is required for this program
(Grades 4-7)
This hands-on program examines African-American life through reproduction objects and historic photos.  Students try their hands at carding cotton and being a soldier in the United States Colored Troops. Themes explored include plantation life, work roles, "King Cotton," the Underground Railroad, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Civil War Amendments as well as the contributions of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.
SOL'S: VS.1, VS.7, USI.1, and USI.9.

Life on the Homefront | 30 minutes

A group of 15 or more students is required for this program
(Grades 4-6)
During this hands-on  program, students discover the impact of war on the homefront, examining jobs created by war and the changing workforce.  Other topics explored include inflation, wages, shortages, and substitutions.  Students role cartridges, sign treasury notes and participate in a shopping spree. 
SOL'S: VS.1, VS.7, USI.1, USI.9

The Common Soldier | 30 minutes

A group of 15 or more students is required for this program
(Grades 4-7)
Using reproduction uniforms, equipment and weapons, this program explores the day-to-day life of the common soldier. Students actively participate by trying on uniforms and learning the nine steps of loading and firing a weapon. Instruction covers the reasons soldiers fought, the equipment they carried, and the food they ate. Advances in weaponry are discussed as well. 
SOL'S: VS.1, VS.7, USI.1, and USI.9
 

Medical Practices of the Civil War | 30 minutes

A group of 15 or more students is required for this program
(Grades 4-12)
From health and hygiene to field surgery, this program introduces students to the grim world of Civil War medicine.  Student volunteers pass a physical, perform triage, and act as assistant surgeons during a mock amputation.  The use of reproduction medical equipment makes this program intriguing to all age levels.  Designed to expose many of the myths about medicine of the time, attention is given to the reasons behind the high disease rate, the use of anesthetics, and the purpose of amputation.
SOL'S: VS.1, VS.7, USI.1, USI.9, VUS.1, and VUS.7