White House of the Confederacy facts for kids
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Second White House of the Confederacy
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The Second White House of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, 2015
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Clay and 12th Sts., Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
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| Built | 1818 |
| Architect | attributed to Robert Mills |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical (1818 construction); Greek Revival (1844 modifications); Italianate (1857 additions) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000924 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
The Second White House of the Confederacy is a historic house in Richmond, Virginia. It was built in 1818. This house served as the main home for Jefferson Davis, the only President of the Confederate States of America. He lived here from August 1861 to April 1865. Today, the house is on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
This important building was owned by the Confederate Memorial Literary Society from 1894 to 2014. Then, the Museum of the Confederacy joined with the American Civil War Center. This new group is now called the American Civil War Museum. The house was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1960.
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History of the Confederate White House
The Second White House of the Confederacy is a large, gray house. It was built in 1818 by John Brockenbrough. He was the president of the Bank of Virginia. The house was designed by Robert Mills. It was located in a rich part of Richmond. Famous neighbors lived nearby, like U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall.
The Brockenbrough family sold the house in 1844. Many rich families owned it before the American Civil War. One owner was James Seddon, who later became a Confederate Secretary of War. Just before the war, Lewis Dabney Crenshaw bought the house. He added a third floor to it. He then sold the house to the City of Richmond.
The Davis Family's Home
In May 1861, Richmond became the capital of the Confederate States. President Jefferson Davis and his family moved from Montgomery, Alabama. They left the First White House of the Confederacy there. The Confederate government rented the Richmond house from the city for the Davis family.
The Davis children were young when they lived in the house. There was Margaret, who was six. Jefferson Davis, Jr. was four. Joseph was two years old. Two more Davis children were born in the house. William was born in 1861. Varina Anne, called "Winnie," was born in 1864. Joseph Davis sadly died in 1864. He fell from a railing at the house.
President Davis had several health issues. He kept an office on the second floor of the house. His personal secretary, Colonel Burton Harrison, also lived there. This was a common practice at the time. The West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C. was added later for offices.
The Davis family left the house on April 2, 1865. This was during the evacuation of Richmond. Union soldiers quickly took over the house. President Abraham Lincoln visited the captured city. He toured the first floor of Davis's former home. He stayed for about three hours. Admiral David Dixon Porter was with him. They met with local leaders in the house.
After the Civil War Ends
After the war, during Reconstruction, the house was used by the military. It was the main office for Military District Number One (Virginia). Sometimes, the commanding officer lived there. Major Generals like Edward O.C. Ord and Alfred Terry served there.
In October 1870, Reconstruction ended in Virginia. The city of Richmond got the house back. It was then used as Richmond Central School. This was one of the first public schools in Richmond after the war.
The House Becomes a Museum
In 1890, the city planned to tear down the house. They wanted to build a new school. But a group called the Confederate Memorial Literary Society formed. Their goal was to save the house.
The Society raised money to start a museum. They bought the house from the city of Richmond. In 1896, the house opened to the public. It became the Confederate Museum. Later, it was renamed the Museum of the Confederacy. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1960. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1966. In 1969, it was added to the Virginia Landmark Register. In 1976, the museum moved its collections to a new building.
Restoring the Historic House
From 1976 to 1988, the museum worked to restore the mansion. They wanted it to look like it did during the war. This included the outside and the first two floors inside. The restoration was praised for its careful work. Many original furnishings were brought back. The house reopened for public tours in June 1988.
Visiting the House Today
The house is still open for public tours. It is part of the visitor experience at the American Civil War Museum.
See also
