The mansion was used as a headquarters for the U.S. military occupying Richmond immediately following the city's fall.
Jefferson Davis and his family occupied the home for almost the entire duration of the Civil War.
The house was constructed as a private residence decades before it was purchased by the city to serve as the Confederate executive mansion.
Abraham Lincoln visited the site in April 1865, shortly after the Union army captured Richmond.
The Confederate Memorial Literary Society saved the building from being replaced by a school in the 1890s.
The White House of the Confederacy served as the executive residence for Jefferson Davis and his family during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. The site is now operated by the American Civil War Museum as a historic house museum. The structure is a three-story neoclassical mansion built in 1818 by John Brockenbrough. Following the Union capture of Richmond in 1865, the building was used by the U.S. military as headquarters for the Department of Virginia. It was saved from demolition in the late 19th century by the Confederate Memorial Literary Society. The interior has been restored to reflect its appearance during the 1860s. The site remains a focal point for studying the political and personal history of the Confederate presidency. It is located on the original grounds of the Medical College of Virginia campus.
The exterior front facade provides the best architectural perspective, particularly from the sidewalk on Clay Street.
Guided tours are required to view the interior rooms of the mansion.
Check the official American Civil War Museum website for current tour availability, as access is restricted to staff-led groups.
Combine your visit with the nearby American Civil War Museum at Tredegar for a comprehensive historical overview.
Do not attempt to walk through the interior rooms without a museum guide.
Tours are often limited by staff availability; check the website for seasonal closures or variations.
Photography is restricted inside the historic rooms; follow all posted signage regarding artifact preservation.
