The White House of the Confederacy at 1201 E. Clay Street, Richmond, Virginia, is a National Historic Landmark operated by the American Civil War Museum (ACWM). It served as the official residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from 1861 to 1865. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
Updated May 2026. The official ACWM website was updated on 4 May 2026. Tour capacity is now listed as 18 visitors per tour. Some older guides still show the previous limit of 15. Check the current tour schedule before you visit.
Quick facts: White House of the Confederacy
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily, 10:00am–5:00pm |
| Adult ticket | $16 |
| Senior ticket (aged 62+) | $14 |
| Youth ticket (aged 6–17) | $9 |
| Children aged 5 and under | Free |
| Address | 1201 E. Clay St., Richmond, VA 23219 |
| Free parking | VCU Otolaryngology Medical Center, 1001 E. Leigh St. (validation required) |
| Nearest public transport | GRTC Pulse BRT – stops within walking distance in downtown Richmond |
| Typical visit time | 45 minutes (guided tour only) |
White House of the Confederacy opening hours
The White House of the Confederacy is open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm, including weekends and public holidays. The ACWM website does not list seasonal variations to these hours. Tour start times vary and are not published on the main page. Check the ticketing portal before you travel to confirm available slots.
White House of the Confederacy ticket prices
All visits are guided; there is no self-guided option. Tickets give access to one scheduled tour.
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | $16 |
| Senior (aged 62+) | $14 |
| Youth (aged 6–17) | $9 |
| Child (aged 5 and under) | Free |
| ACWM member | Free |
Discounted admission is available through two schemes. SNAP benefit recipients can enter free or at reduced cost by presenting an EBT card and photo ID at the door, via the Museums for All programme. Qualifying members of ROAM (Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums) and NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum) receive reciprocal free admission.
Multi-site pass: If you plan to visit both the White House of the Confederacy and the American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar (roughly one mile away), ask about the multi-site pass at the front desk. This discount is only available in person, not online.
Ticket prices were checked on the official ACWM website and last updated in May 2026.
How to get to the White House of the Confederacy
The White House of the Confederacy is on the corner of 12th Street and E. Clay Street in Richmond’s Court End neighbourhood, a short walk from Capitol Square. By public transport, the GRTC Pulse bus rapid transit line serves downtown Richmond, with stops within easy walking distance. Use Google Maps or the GRTC journey planner to identify the closest stop to your starting point.
Parking at the White House of the Confederacy
Free parking with ACWM validation is available at the VCU Otolaryngology Medical Center car park, 1001 E. Leigh St., Richmond, VA 23219. On weekdays, enter from 11th Street; on weekends, enter from 10th Street. Follow the self-parking signs. Bring your parking ticket to the ACWM Visitor Centre (located behind the house) to have it validated. A map is on the official website.
How long to spend at the White House of the Confederacy
Guided tours last 45 minutes. All visits are tour-based; there is no self-guided access to the house. Allow a few additional minutes for check-in and, if you wish, to browse the small gift shop afterwards. Most visitors are in and out within 90 minutes including travel to and from the car park.
Accessibility at the White House of the Confederacy
The White House of the Confederacy is not physically accessible to wheelchairs or walkers of any size. All entrances to the house involve steps, and this cannot be modified due to the historic nature of the building. Wheelchair users who wish to visit should call 804-649-1861 ext. 121 at least 48 hours in advance to arrange a virtual tour instead. The ACWM holds a VisitAble Advocate Certification, confirming staff have received training in serving visitors with disabilities.
Inside the White House of the Confederacy: what to see
Visits are conducted by a trained ACWM interpreter who leads groups of up to 18 people through two floors of the restored house. Photography is permitted throughout.
Ground floor public rooms: The tour begins in the entrance hall and takes in the drawing room, centre parlour, and state dining room. Many of the furnishings are original or period-accurate pieces from the wartime era.
Upper floors and private quarters: The tour continues upstairs to the family’s private rooms, including bedrooms, the nursery, and President Davis’s personal study, where he conducted official government business.
Enslaved and free servants: The tour addresses the lives of the twelve to fifteen enslaved and free people who lived and worked in the house. Additional material is available in the ACWM’s online exhibit, In Service and Servitude.
Abraham Lincoln’s visit: The 4 April 1865 visit by President Lincoln – who spent roughly two hours in the house following the Union occupation of Richmond – is covered during the tour.
Practical visitor tips for the White House of the Confederacy
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book in advance | Tour capacity is capped at 18 visitors. Slots fill quickly at weekends and in summer. |
| Find the Visitor Centre first | The entry point is the Visitor Centre behind the house, not the main door facing Clay Street. Allow a few minutes to locate it on arrival. |
| Check tour times before you go | Start times are not listed on the main website page. Use the ticketing portal to find available slots on your chosen date. |
| Combine with Tredegar | The American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar is roughly one mile away. A multi-site pass is available in person at a lower combined rate. |
| Validate your parking ticket | Free parking requires validation at the Visitor Centre. Do not leave without having your ticket stamped or you will be charged the full rate. |
Frequently asked questions about the White House of the Confederacy
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the White House of the Confederacy? | Advance booking is strongly recommended. Tours are capped at 18 visitors and can sell out, particularly at weekends. |
| Is the White House of the Confederacy open on Sundays? | Yes. It is open daily, including Sundays, from 10:00am to 5:00pm. |
| Is the White House of the Confederacy wheelchair accessible? | No. All entrances involve steps. Wheelchair users can arrange a virtual tour by calling 804-649-1861 ext. 121 at least 48 hours ahead. |
| Is the White House of the Confederacy suitable for children? | Children aged six and over can join the guided tour. Content is historical and may benefit from some context in advance. Children aged five and under enter free. |
| Are bags allowed at the White House of the Confederacy? | The official website does not publish a specific bag policy. Contact the site on 804-649-1861 before your visit if you have a query. |
Things to do near the White House of the Confederacy
- Virginia State Capitol (0.3 miles): A working legislative building designed with input from Thomas Jefferson, open for free guided and self-guided public tours.
- The Valentine (0.3 miles): Richmond’s city history museum, covering four centuries of the city’s past, located in the same Court End neighbourhood.
- American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar (approx. 1 mile): The main ACWM site, set in a former iron foundry on the James River, exploring the Civil War from multiple perspectives.
- Virginia Holocaust Museum (0.7 miles): A free-entry memorial museum documenting the Holocaust, located a short walk south of Court End.
- Edgar Allan Poe Museum (0.9 miles): A small museum in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom neighbourhood dedicated to the life and work of the writer who grew up in the city.
What to visit tomorrow: historic house museums within two hours of Richmond
- Monticello, Charlottesville (~70 miles, approx. 1 hour): The UNESCO World Heritage Site home of Thomas Jefferson, with guided and self-guided tour options.
- Colonial Williamsburg (~50 miles, approx. 1 hour): A large living history site interpreting 18th-century Virginia life across dozens of restored buildings.
- Montpelier, Orange County (~60 miles, approx. 1 hour): The lifelong home of President James Madison, restored to its 1820 appearance and open for guided house tours.
- Shirley Plantation, Charles City (~35 miles, approx. 45 minutes): One of Virginia’s oldest working plantations, dating to 1638, with a Georgian mansion open for guided tours.
- Mount Vernon, Fairfax County (~100 miles, approx. 1.5 hours): George Washington’s estate on the Potomac River, including the house, outbuildings, and a large museum.
More Virginia travel
Other Virginia travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- A practical visitor guide to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Chantilly.
- What’s so special about the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke?
- Guide to visiting Booker T Washington National Monument near Roanoke.
- Plan your visit to Natural Bridge State Park.
- What you should know before visiting the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond.
