There is something about standing in a spot where history was made. Where men made decisions that altered the shape of the country and where countless well-known men and women came to visit.
One such place is the White House of the Confederacy located in Richmond, Virginia. This historical treasure was almost lost forever when, about 30 years after the end of the Civil War, some wanted the house destroyed.
Confederate White House - Photo by bmpowell
Some of the ladies of Richmond society joined forces to form a committee that discouraged the demise of a building that was important to the history of not only Virginia, but the entire country.
They won their battle and the Museum of the Confederacy was born. They solicited donations from Confederate soldiers and the families they left behind for any items that would provide a glimpse into the life of a Confederate soldier.
For many years, the collection was displayed inside the White House, but in 1976, a separate building was erected on the property to house the more than 15,000 items owned by the museum. It is the largest collection of Confederate memorabilia in the world and includes uniforms, weapons, medical equipment and much more. There are also more than 6,000 Civil War era photographs in the collection including battle scenes and others depicting the everyday lives of both soldiers and civilians.
The White House of the Confederacy is furnished to look exactly as it would have when Jefferson Davis and his family called it home. Many of the items actually belonged to Jefferson Davis.
Many special events and lectures are held throughout the year.
This is a must see for Civil War history buffs.
