The Museum and White House of the Confederacy, Richmond, Virginia, The Largest Collection of Confederate Artifacts in the World

In 1861, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, along with his wife and children, moved into a neoclassical Richmond mansion. He and his family remained in this house throughout the Civil War, earning the home the title "White House of the Confederacy.''

Built in 1818 by Bank of Virginia president John Brockenbrough, the home was slated for demolition in the 1890's until some Richmond society women stepped in. Wanting to preserve this piece of southern history, the women won their fight to keep the mansion from being destroyed.

The Museum of the Confederacy, located at 1201 Clay Street, is the oldest museum in Richmond. The same group of Richmond women who saved the house from destruction began to curate items for the museum in 1892. In 1896, the museum opened to the public with items being displayed in the White House mansion.

In 1976, the museum was moved to a more modern building. Today, the museum complex includes both the newer building and the White House of the Confederacy, both of which remain open to the public.

The White House, which is open for guided tours, has been restored to look as it would have during the Civil War when the home was the social and political center of the southern states. The home, which is a National Historic Landmark, is decorated with period furniture and artwork and there are many items that actually belonged to the Jefferson Davis family.

The Museum of the Confederacy holds the largest collection of Confederate items anywhere in the world. There are more than 15,000 items in the collection including flags, uniforms, badges, weapons, medical items and artwork. There are also a large number of everyday civilian items such as shoes, textiles, kitchen items and more. Additionally, the museum is home to an impressive collection of more than 6,000 Civil War era photographs including portraits and battlefield shots among others.

The museum holds great importance to students of the Civil War. There is an extensive collection of research material regarding the Confederates actions during the Civil War. The museum also hosts many lectures and other special events throughout the year.

Many visitors agreed that the museum has a lot of interesting artifacts and photographs that make the museum worth a visit. Many also noted that the museum is not, as one visitor said, "kid friendly.'' Another visitor from Washington D.C. said, "The Museum is a lot worn around the edges, but definitely worth visiting. There's a lot of reading. So it may become tedious for children.''

Occasionally, the White House is closed for repairs so it is a good idea to check for current operating hours when planning a visit.