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Montgomery, Alabama, was the first capital of the Confederate States of America, so naturally the First White House of the Confederacy was also located there. Admission is free and it’s open daily except Sundays.
History
The First White House of the Confederacy was built in 1835 by William Sayre. Jefferson Davis and his family lived there from February to May 21, 1861, when they moved with the capital to Richmond, Virginia. After that, the house passed through the hands of several different private owners. The house was originally located at Bibb and Lee Streets and was moved to its current location on June 3, 1921. It sits across the street from the south side of the Alabama State Capitol.
Visiting the House
We walked up to the house and were greeted by a friendly woman waiting for a group of Civil War actors coming for a group tour. She asked us to join them when they arrived, and we began our self-guided tour of the house. Admission is free (as of January 2024) and it’s open Monday through Saturday.
On the ground floor, we could see the bedroom of Jefferson Davis, which contains several of his personal items. His wife, Varina, slept in a separate room.
Also on the ground floor are parlors connected by sliding doors and the dining room. Some important items, such as the Davis family Bible and a chair given to Davis are clearly marked.
Upstairs, there are four bedrooms and a nursery. Three of the bedrooms are decorated with period furniture while the other serves as a small museum dedicated to Davis.
Museum
In the museum, you can see items related to Jefferson Davis’ life, including clothes he wore and a bottle of wine he made at his vineyard in Mississippi after the Civil War.
You can also see Davis’ pipe and tobacco bag as well as a set of coffee cups presented to him by the Ottoman Sultan Abdülaziz. Part of the Confederate bunting that draped his casket as it laid in state in the Alabama State Capitol is also on display.
Conclusion
We only spent about 15 minutes inside the house, but we thought it was an informative look into the personal life of Jefferson Davis. Also, staff was extremely friendly and helpful, answering all of our questions.
