Montgomery, Alabama, USA

The election of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th president of the US was followed by a period of rapid change as the states of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas took the decision to secede from the Union within a matter of weeks.  The seven states then went on to form the Confederate States of America at a meeting held in Montgomery, Alabama on 4 February 1861.  Two weeks later Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as the provisional president of the newly formed confederacy.

A house near the river was leased to be used as the residence for Davis and his family and after a couple of months of work the family moved in on the 14 April.  Their residence there was to be relatively short lived as by 20 May a decision was passed to move the Confederate Capital to Richmond where it remained for the duration of the war.

The house survived the war and went on to have a few owners before a decision was made to preserve it as the First White House of the Confederacy.  A long process saw the establishment of the White House Association of Alabama and culminated in the house being moved, piece by piece, to a new location near the Alabama State Capitol.

The house serves as a fascinating glimpse into the birth of the confederacy as well as enabling the visitor to find out more about the first president and his family.  The story of how the. house was preserved for future generations is similarly interesting and gives more than a nod to the determination of a small but tenacious group of women.

Visitors can look around all of the house, from the parlours, to the presidents bedroom and study. as well as the dining room where the weekly cabinet meetings were held.

Entrance is free.

General accessibility information

There are several steps to access the front of the house, however there is a ramp around the side that enables access for wheelchair users.

Once up the ramp, the whole of the ground floor is wheelchair accessible.

Unfortunately, due to the age of the building there is no lift, so wheelchair users cannot access the upstairs.

However the staff are wonderful, very friendly and knowledgable, so while it is not possible to view all of the house if you have mobility difficulties, there is more than enough to make it a worthwhile visit anyway.