The White House of the Confederacy

Designated a National Historic Landmark, the White House of the Confederacy is one of the nation's finest historic, architectural and decorative treasures. The Washington Post has written that the White House of the Confederacy “is a meticulously restored neoclassical masterpiece that, in terms of quality, historical associations and authenticity, probably is second only to Mount Vernon among restorations of historic American dwellings.”

Nestled beneath the tall buildings of modern downtown Richmond, Virginia, the gray-stuccoed mansion has stood at the corner of 12^th and Clay Streets in the historic Court End neighborhood since 1818. Home to a succession of wealthy families throughout the antebellum period, the building earned a unique stature in American history for its role as the Executive Mansion of the Confederate States of America from 1861 to 1865. The official residence of President Jefferson Davis, his wife Varina and their children, the house was also the social, political and military center of the Confederacy.

The mansion has been restored to the splendor of its mid-nineteenth century phase, with over half of the original furnishings from its wartime role as the Confederate White House, supplemented by a rich collection of period fabrics and furnishings. Guided tours of the White House of the Confederacy are conducted on a daily basis and usually last 40 minutes. Make plans to visit today!

Download a White House Chronology

In 2012, C-SPAN came to the White House of the Confederacy to film an episode of their series "American Artifacts." See the episode here.