First White House of the Confederacy Reviews

It was like stepping back into the late 1800s. The house is simple, but worth the visit. Learn about the family that lived there before the capital was moved to Richmond. There is a room with civil war artifact!

It were hectic times when confederate Jefferson took quarters in this great building. After three months he had tot withdraw to Richmond. The people in charge today realize the importante of this history. The place is neatly arranged and getting the attention it needs.

The Confederate White House is another gem in Montgomery. Original pieces from 1860s, very interesting display cabinets, adequate explanatory booklets, minimalist gift shop. N

Before the Confederate States of American moved its capital to Richmond, Montgomery was the center. Across the street from the Alabama State Capital (also worth a brief visit), is the First White House which was briefly home to Jefferson Davis and his family. It’s a relatively modest home but is well preserved and offers some insights into that period of our nation’s history. Admission is free which is unusual these days. We were warmly greeted by museum staff who offered us complimentary bottles of water, a real gift on a hot day. They gave us a bit of history about the house (which was relocated from its original site a few blocks away). One of the staff gave our son a bullet from the civil war era which totally made his day. The tour is self-guided and allows you to see the bedrooms, dining room, living room, etc. Quite a few pieces of furniture are original to the Davis family. There are also some memorabilia in a room upstairs. Worth a quick visit for the history and the hospitality.

This house provides a self guided tour which I prefer. Very interesting and informative. A couple of days later, we visited Beauvoir in Biloxi where Jefferson lived after the war. I recommend seeing both!!

Lots of information that you can read as you tour this building. Recently reviewed by the Associated Press and received some backlash for what is known about some of the exhibits.

We included this in our many stops of the Civil Heritage Trail in Montgomery, AL. The house was well kept and filled with period pieces and history. It was self guided and informative.

Nice stop; greeted warmly upon entering and even offered refreshments on our FREE tour! The self-guided tour is a little dull as it mostly mentions period pieces and who they were donated from for inclusion in the Museum - wish there was more history about Mr. Davis and his family. But a wonderful re-creation of his home of 4 months with some beautiful furnishings and memorabilia in the "relic room." (Although it is upsetting to see such bright lights and no UV protection on such rare relics!) The staff was friendly and informative and knew the answers to all our questions; the gift shop was a cute unexpected treat, and we were even allowed to use restrooms at the facility before departing on a long road trip (not sure if they are supposed to be reserved for staff only). Overall glad that we stopped in for a piece of southern history that often seems a little overlooked. Montgomery was a great place to see the road all the way from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement and how it changed our country!

The first White House of the Confederacy is just that and was the home to the President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis.
Here, you will see how he lived as the rooms are all furnished to look like it was when he lived there.

The house is really a museum, and the upstairs holds original clothes and relics of the Civil War.

Swords, personal items of Davis and others as well as flags, letters, shoes, money and so much more are on display.
A visit here is a history lesson like no other.
Believe me, you will have a deeper understanding of those times that changed America.
It's free and the man who takes care of the place and answers questions and shows you around is not only knowledgeable, but friendly. Plus, he has cold water and a smile for you.
The gift shop is awesome.

This is a well preserved moment in time. The docents are informative and helpful with information from the area and story of the house.

Well maintained piece of confederate history. Free to walk around with a useful self help guide. Lots of relic pieces from the period. The area around this is also worth a walk.

Ok this is a FREE
Self guided tour, awesome historical views of period furniture, clothes, letters, and pictures that were original. We even saw his toothbrush and original lace curtains. This is a MUST SEE for southerners! Bob, was a fabulous vault of amazing facts and wonderful fun facts. Great, great, great stop!

If you're interested in what an antebellum house looked like and the artifacts in it, this might be a good place to visit. If you're really interested in the events and politics of the civil war and how they connect, this might not be the place for you. Personally, I lean towards the latter and would have liked to know more about who Jefferson Davis was as a person, and the internal conflict that he would have gone through as he led the Confederate States of America into secession. It's an extremely complicated time in American history and seeing the house didn't help my understanding much. The staff are really knowledgable though, so if you ask the questions, they'll give you the history, but you'll need to be proactive. However, the museum is free, and it's not a bad place to poke around for a half hour or so.

We enjoyed touring the home. It is free to enter. The volunteer gave us an overview of the home and then we went on a self guided tour. There were many signs so you could understand the artifacts. A room upstairs had many items displayed relating to the Confederacy.

We visited quickly on the way through to Florida. It is a beautiful home and the host that greeted was so nice. It is full of history. My review is a bit different in that it has an energy to it that is suppressing. Paranormal. So if you are a skeptic, you might not get this review. That's ok. While on the bottom floor it felt like I couldn't breathe. We went upstairs and it got worse. My husband and daughter felt it. My husband and I also felt being lightheaded. So much negativity is associated with the house and the belongings in it. While beautiful, I had to get out. I mentioned it to the host and he was so nice. He offered water and said that yes, most other people working at the home or with it, experience strange activity. Either seeing a lady dressed in 1800's attire or just the feeling of being watched. Feeling like they are suffocating. He even pulled a book that was written about the haunting of it. When we left, I had anxiety and a feeling like something bad was about to happen. It went away after about an hour. While very cool to experience, it was different than what most would have. I don't expect many to understand.

Being a nonwhite Hispanic from New York, I visited the First White House of the Confederacy with some trepidation. With that in mind, I found this place to be a fine combination of political and historical home period history through its guidebook--even the Bible on display has a story behind it, and even an old article that nods at how little is publicly known about the home's historical occupant. And unlike most historical homes, this one has a gift shop full of books and souvenirs. It is a diverse selection with something you might like. What confederate perspective things there were in stock were unsettling, but tasteful enough. By all means hesitate, but go anyway.

Located across from the state capital, this free museum is more about a historical house than the brief time it served as a home for Jefferson Davis. Terminology used in the house is a throwback to the pre-Civil right era.

We walked in and was immediately met by a gentleman who introduced himself as Yankee Bob. He then let us know that the self-guided tour was "free, but as we all know nothing is really free." He then let us know that we had to listen to him for a couple of minutes. He then started to talk about the history of the house and the Confederacy. We found him to be extremely knowledgeable and full of energy. It was obvious that for him this wasn’t a job, but rather a passion. After talking about the house and the area for about 20 minutes we picked up the self guided tour books and walked around inside the house. Almost everything in the home is original from the period. It is very well maintained and according to Bob much of the furniture layout was done by Mrs. Jefferson Davis when the association took over the home in 1900. I would recommend this to everyone even if you are not a history buff.

Enjoyed seeing this building and hearing about its role in our history. Guide was quite informative and very personable.

It was not big or crowded when we went. The hostess gave us cold water and talked us through each room. We sat on the porch and talked for an hour afterwards,. It was great.

If you're into Civil War history this is the place for you. I'm not so I think it colored my judgment. But the history of the house is interesting and the staff was very friendly.

the house has a very interesting and colorful history before it became the white house for the confederacy. the guide that meets you at the door is super knowledgeable about the house. the house tour is self guided but it was interesting hearing him talk about the house itself and all of the other owners

The history of this place and area is amazing and things you cannot learn in school . Ask questions and learn . There was many confederate flags in different colors and when I asked why and it was explained it will make you realize that these flags do NOT mean what people think they mean or have any racial meanings .

Preserved Executive Home of Jefferson Davis. Lots of antique and civil war era decor and furnishings.
The house museum Docent was very friendly with southern charm hospitality.

Why would anyone be interested in an old house commemorating Jefferson Davis's 3 months there? I can;t find a good reason. We went in just out of curiosity and walked out after about 5 minutes. The "docents" are lovely and do want to share information. But not worth the time.

Across the road from the Alabama State Capitol building. This place is closed on Sundays but you can walk round the grounds.

I cannot tell you how many times I said I was going to see the First White House of the Confederacy and to a person they said, “Oh, you’re going to Richmond?” My husband and I cannot thank Nathan and Bob enough for the great tour experience. Bob greeted us at the door and could not have been more informative and congenial. We also got to meet Nathan, a fifth generation native, who wrote the self guided tour manual. The manual does a great job of really “telling the story” of the house. We were amazed at the period pieces that the museum staff has been able to track down. It is a great tour when combined with the Capitol (next door) where Jefferson Davis was sworn in on the steps over looking the city. (Nathan was able to outline the highlights of the Capitol because guided tours were not available.)

Well, first of all, FREE, my favorite price. Well kept, factual, no drama. Other visitors we're an interesting mix of cultures.

Interesting spot, good history that many people may not realize. Beautiful house. Decorated with authentic pieces from the day.

Every time friends and family are in town we must see Mr. Bob! He knows so much about the history and is very kind. The house is extremely well preserved and definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.

While an evacuee of Hurricane Irma, we toured Jefferson Davis' White House. This home is in downtown Montgomery, Alabama.

The volunteers were very knowledgeable of each piece of historical furniture and other pieces of reclaimed significance.

Men will enjoy the weapons collection.

Women will enjoy the period clothing and baby items.

Here I saw a "tea table" which I had to have the hostess demonstrate how it was used.

Allow about one hour for the self-guided tour or upon request a host will accompany you on a narriated tour.

Well worth a visit if you have spare time. Give a balanced view of the Civil War and the Confederacy. Lots of period furniture and portraits. Doesn't take much time.

Montgomery was the first Confederate capital and Jefferson Davis lived there for a few months, until the capital was moved to Richmond. Most of the furniture and furnishings in the house belonged to Davis. If they charged money to see it, it might be iffy, but it’s free and well worth a look. It will balance all the liberal revisionist history you'll see in other places.

This house was used by Jefferson Davis during the Civil War. The information and memorabilia were a fascinating reminder of the sacrifices both sides made. And, after the North won, he rejoined civilian life until his death.

Yes, make the 2 minute walk from the capitol to visit this restored home. The gentleman who greeted us was so knowledgeable and had fascinating information to share. The house itself is OK, but he really brought it to life.

My wife and I visited here on a Monday afternoon. The house is located just two block from the capitol building...an easy walk except for the downpour we got caught in returning to our car.

The house itself is interesting for its time period, but not very impressive. There are nice printed self tour guides that you can use to tour the house.

Both my wife and I found the short biography of Jefferson Davis, posted on the doorway to a room upstairs, to be very interesting. We were both unaware of all of the things he had done before he became the President of the Confederacy.

Stopped by while we had evacuated with Irma. What a pleasurable stop and Robert was very informative! Also offered us free water. Really enjoyed the self tour!

This historic building is directly across from the state Capitol. We were greeted as we entered the place by the curator who was very welcoming and knowledgeable. He made us feel right at home. It’s not a huge place so it won’t take too long, but it was interesting to see the past laid out in such a historic setting. Well worth going.

This place offers self guided tours but the super friendly staff is very knowledgeable to answer any questions.

Visited with our 3 young grandsons. The host greeted us at the door. Super friendly and informative. He had the children pose for pictures in front of Jefferson Davis portrait and supplied Confederate caps for them. You have your choice of Union caps...but hey..this is the Confederate white house and we are from the South! The home is beautifully done and what is most impressive is that all of the furnishings are authentic to Jefferson Davis and his family. Even included was a desk owned by the Custis family (George Washington's wife's family. One descendent marrying Robert E. Lee) . There is a really interesting museum on the 2nd floor full of historical documents, photos, weapons, etc. that is excellent. If you enjoy history, the First White House of the Confederacy is a gem !!!

Bob was the docent-- talk about an encyclopedia of facts. He is it!! Wonderful museum so full of facts thanks to Bob and the relics room beautiful furnishings. Definitely a step back in time

This was a hidden gem! The gentleman that greeted us at the door was from upstate NY. He was fantastic- enthusiastic and a wealth of information. The home and furnishings are well kept and the history was great. In a city full of great history, please don't miss this!

Tour guide very knowledgeable. Did not know much about Jefferson Davis before. Didn't know they would have their
bedrooms on the first floor.

Being a history buff - I really enjoyed it, but not sure my husband and adult sons got as much out of the visit. They thought it was okay. The docent was very informative (and dapper in his bowtie). The end of our visit overlapped with elementary-aged kids on a field trip

We visited Montgomery in March 2024 from the UK. The First White House of the Confederacy is located five minute walk across the road from the State Capitol building in Montgomery, so if you are visiting the Capitol, I would absolutely recommend taking the time to visit this piece of history. We were greeted at the entrance by the curator of this museum, who is a lovely, extraordinary man called Bob, and he took such great care of us during our time visiting the museum, he was very very hospitable offering us drinks of water when we arrived, and he had an abundance of knowledge to share with us about the history of not just the building, but the civil war as a historian. The museum is free and it will probably take you about 10 minutes to walk around the building, but we were there for about 30 minutes just spending time talking to Bob. He really did make the visit special!

Very good museum with lots of artifacts from Jefferson Davis’s life. The home is air conditioned and is a self guided tour.

I was only able to walk past, it was shut on Sundays. Well kept building, nestled among other large institutions of Montgomery.

Visited and it was very busy with school groups touring. There is a booklet that provides you with a self guided tour. There was no one to help us, as they were busy with the tour groups. The house is small, but it is packed with fascinating memorabilia from the President Jefferson Davis Era. It was a cool place to visit.

Bizarre shrine to Davis with no accurate context of why he presided over secessionists who fought against the USA. What could be presented as an historical site is instead offered as a place for fans to visit. Too bad!

Well worth a visit to see the social, political and economic reasons for secession. Well run, authentic and above all not biased. A very interesting and intellectually stimulating sight.

My husband and I visited this historical building recently. The building itself is beautiful in a historical setting in downtown Montgomery. We were offered a self guided tour which was great. Every room had been set to the time of Jefferson Davies. We felt like Goldilocks who entered the bears house expecting the owners to return in any moment. There is a lot of history packed into the building. Impeccably clean and detail oriented. A must to see.

The First White House of the Confederacy is an interesting place, but not particularly impressive. The tour guide made the whole visit worthwhile. He is a witty and engaging guide and happy to discuss the place in detail. Pretty much a real character. Worth your time.

The first White House of the confederacy is worth your time and a great landmark to our nations heritage. The staff are amazing and very knowledgeable. This stop won’t disappoint. It’s located directly across from the capital. I highly recommend. They have original clothing and furniture staged throughout the house.

Beautiful home and furnishings with very interesting displays. The staff was extremely welcoming. We arrived shortly before closing and was welcomed in with a cold bottle of water. Admission is free, donations welcome. They also have a gift shop.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking to the staff especially Robert W (sorry, my memory is bad and don't want to misspell his last name). He was extremely friendly, extremely engaging and willing to share stories which made the history fun to consume. I would truly recommend it as Pres J Davies of the Confederates is at times a misunderstood character in history and by visiting this home, perception can be better addressed

This house is a gem. The entrance was free and we used the (very easy to follow) self-guided tour book. The furnishings and memorabilia are in excellent condition, well displayed and the significance of each piece is explained in the guide book. It doesn't take long to go through this house and is well worth the time.

As a Civil War buff, this was a great stop on our trip. Historic homes always have an appeal and the antiques and period pieces give a wonderful feel to this historic location. The docents are friendly and informative so ask questions to learn more. It's free but donations will help keep history alive.

This is a free house tour first white house in Alabama worth stopping has self Guiding tour parking is right out front with a meter if you have extra time and did all other interesting history thing this would be place to spend some time

Very educational really enjoyed it

But need to read history first before going to see Hostess there was very and knowledgeable.

The staff and guides are without a doubt terrific, friendly and helpful. The house is in pristine condition with some truly wonderful displays of the times.
If you are in Alabama this is a must do must see exhibit of those times. The artifacts are remarkably well presented and preserved.
It is directly opposite the state capital building, not well signposted but on the corner.

This is a nice little quick stop if you are traveling to or through Montgomery. It is a free self guided tour. The propel met that worked there, were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. They helped to bring a nice warmth to the house, instead of it having that museum feeling. They have a small gift shop, that is how they are funded, so I recommend buying something.

Interesting site for Civil War/Confederate buffs. The house was smaller than I expected and the site is completely enclosed by a short wall and iron fencing. There are plaques outside the home. Street parking is available (and more plentiful on Saturdays). Not really stroller or wheel chair friendly. Located just across the street from the Capitol building. Admission is free. Younger kids will not enjoy it. Older kids may find it boring. For a historical site, it's pretty well preserved.

A great piece of history in a beautiful setting in downtown Montgomery. Even though the tour is self guided, the staff was very helpful. Lots of interesting and actual pieces from Davis and the Civil War.

This is a beautiful, historic home that was once occupied by President Jefferson Davis and his family after Montgomery was temporarily selected as the capital of the new Confederate States of America. The home is well-preserved and kept. The displays are authentic and contain items used by the Davis family at the time. Signage marks the rooms and significant items within them. The relic room upstairs contains a breathtaking variety of beautiful, personal items of Confederate leaders. There is also a gift shop in what appears to have been the kitchen area with a nice, but small selection of goods. There is also a restroom.

There are two truly wonderful aspects to the First White House. The first is that it is very accommodating of families. Unlike some other historic homes whose personnel seem to dislike children and want you out of their tour, the First White House was an open and wonderful place for all of us to explore (and no ridiculous rules against taking pictures). The second is that the presentation is respectful to President Davis and to the people of Alabama. It has not been corrupted by the ignorant, single-minded, ideological, virtue-signalling that has overtaken so many historic sites to appease a small group of outrage mongers. No, here it's still possible to respect great men despite any shortcomings they may have had rather than tear apart straw men. My mixed race family couldn't have been happier. The former home of President Davis and the place that served as the First White House of the Confederacy SHOULD favor the South. Thank God there are still places we can go to that do. We were able to come and see a well-preserved part of history and to pay our respects to an honorable man and a stalwart, valorous generation.

Other reviewers have already pretty much said it. This place is an homage to Jefferson Davis and the confederacy. It's completely one sided in its portrayal of Davis, the Civil War, his role in it, and who he was as a person. I asked the docent who had built the house and he gave me the name of the original white owner William Sayre, but then I pressed him about who actually built it and he gave me the same name. Now, no white owner built a house in Montgomery, Alabama on his own in 1832. This house was built by enslaved people. But this is the kind of white supremacy that this site and the Civil War intended to promote. There is some serious need for some other perspectives here at this museum. It is not at all true that the people who were enslaved by the Confederates were happier than people who served in the Union as freedmen (according to the docent). Also disturbing are the confederate dress up hats available in gray and pink (for girls, I guess).

The one real positive here, if you are aware enough to weed through the mistaken history, is that they have delightfully chilled water that they bring out on a tray. July is hot in Alabama.

This is an interesting historical state, however, it does not provide a balanced view of Jefferson Davis and the Confederacy. There is no mention any where of the approximately 200 slaves he owned! We were shocked to find that almost everything in the gift shop was blatantly pro-confederacy. This is inappropriate, and offensive. An historical site should provide the full history of its subject, good, bad, and ugly. It clearly does not aim to serve all visitors to Montgomery!
The one strength was the excellent historian serving as our tour guide, and Evelyn in the book shop. They were terrific!!!

This is a nice historical site. There are many historical artifacts honoring the confederacy during the Civil War including the Confederate flag that was on Jefferson Davis's coffin and many original items belonging to the Davis Family. I do wish more confederate items were for sale in the gift shop but this is a very nice museum honoring history, southern legacy, and cultures forgotten.

This was the home of Jeff Davis in the early months of the Confederacy. The house was moved from a riverfront location and beautifully restored. Although it was a self-guided tour, there was a docent available to answer any questions.

Interesting to see from the outside (although we were surprised to read that this is not the home's original location!). As of May 2021, the home is reportedly re-open for tours on weekdays (we visited on a weekend so I cannot confirm), but recommend calling first to confirm.

It’s within walking distance of the capitol and archives. The self-guided tour is free. It was hot outside, and we were given free bottles of water. There is a small gift shop too.

Saw this in google maps so had a look , free entry which is always a surprise and Robert the guy in the house was fantastic . He gave us a history lesson and brought us free bottles of cold water. Not a huge building but well laid out and can see into a lot of the house , some artefacts on display in a room upstairs and great for history buffs

I have traveled the country learning about the civil war and visiting monuments and sight. This "White House" is beautifully preserved with countless artifacts and period furniture. It is a self guided tour with a guide book and you can take your time reading about and looking at all the historical memorabilia. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Though the gift shop is small, there a wide selection of items. If you are visiting Montgomery this should be one of your stops, and it is free!

Bob is AMAZING!!! Please take an extra hour of your day to swing by this fine house. So much history to see and please converse with Bob. He is one knowledgeable fella

If you have time, recommend stopping in for a visit. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and eager to share what they know about our nations history.

We were in town to visit the civil rights sites and had time to drop in here. The majority of the written information available for the self guided tour is about the furniture and decorations of the home. I was very uncomfortable with the fact that Davis is referred to as a patriot. He led those who took up arms against his country.

I was not aware that the Confederacy actually had it's first capital here and it's first White House. It is not grandiose, but very interesting.

This self-guided house tour has a lot of information in its walls. I didn't realize that Zelda Fitzgerald's family was truly a prominent one in Montgomery and built the home in 1825. I also didn't realize that an order and a type of gun created a major rift between Winfield Scott and Jefferson Davis during the Mexican-American War. There are fascinating backstories throughout. Also, if you have teens or younger ones, the wonderful staff might just give you an authentic mini-ball that was found in a Civil War battle--a truly unique souvenir.

This is a very interesting place to visit while in Montgomery. It’s right downtown and across from the State Capital Building. There are so many relics and actual pieces that were used by the family/ies. Just another piece of our country’s history to learn from.

If you are a history buff this is a must see. It is where Jefferson Davis lived at the beginning of the Confederacy. Across the street is where the south seceded from the Union. A block away is where Dr King preached and along with Rosa Parks began the Civil Rights movement with the Montgomery bus boycott. A lot of history.

Lots of history shown here with some great artifacts from the Civil War period. It is a self guided tour but the docent is very friendly and knowledgeable. He was eager to learn about where we were from and what drew us to visit this location as well as answer any questions about the house, it's history and the people who live there. There was no charge to visit and you could spend as much time as you wanted.

Looking a bit incongruous among granite state office buildings, this relatively small house was a time capsule of furnishings and decorating going back to the 1860's. We have visited the later Confederate White House in Richmond, VA, but found this earlier version more intimate and welcoming. Docent Robert was incredibly well informed about the house and its history. He was eager to help visitors understand its context. While we are Yankees, we hope that places like this remain to help future generations understand the nature of the confederacy and the people who fought for it.

Coming from abroad didn't really know the history of this house, was pleasantly surprised when we walked in one of the attraction guys asked where we were from and when advising from London he then gave us a mini tour and explanation of the house. It was a very warm day and as everyone came into the house the staff provided free bottles of freezing cold water which was really nice. It is free to enter (although there is a donations box which we put in as the house its kept in beautiful condition and the staff were amazing!)

The docent Mr Robert is wonderful and knowledgeable person.
I was met with water bottle and chocolate.
The original piece history.
Buy something in store you help keep this piece of History.
Free of charge.
Must see.

Definitely it was an intersting visit, even for average enthusiasts of history like me...It houses a decent collection of antiques and artifacts which were nice to see, of course not to mention the House itself, having withstand time....A visit to historical landmarks like this, sum up a hundred pages of a textbook, so bring also your kids along if you can, you'll do them some favor....

I drove around for a while to find this place, then tried to find a free parking space as I had no change on me. There are plenty of spaces, but all the spaces for blocks around are metered, and I didn't want to get a parking ticket in the old South. I watched Cool Hand Luke and saw what happened to Paul Newman because of a parking meter. Oh well. That was fiction. This is historical fact and I really wanted to tour it, but the rest of the family was getting restless and after several passes around the area i gave up and left. Make sure you bring quarters so you can see Jefferson Davis" quarters! It was still interesting to see the outside of the building and how close it was to the state capitol and to help understand how events that happened here also led to Montgomery being the seat of the Civil Rights movement a century later. It also seems to me the South's first big tactical mistake (other than seceeding in the first place) was moving the capitol from Montgomery to Richmond, only a hundred miles from DC. If Lee hadn't stopped McClellan in the Seven Days War, it would have indeed been a very short rebellion. In my opinion, the second biggest mistake was picking Jefferson Davis as president. I wanted to learn mmore about the man and why he got the job he performed so poorly. I know some people don't like it, but it is fitting that the house is preserved and intrepreted. It and the Civil Rights sites nearby should be so we can't pretend horrible things didn't happen and to learn from history so we don't repeat it.

takes you back to yesteryear Quite educational Great place to take the grand kids Not handicap accessible inside

This is a very interesting museum that is free and has many interesting artifacts of the southern president

I have a particular interest in the Civil War, and we visited a few years ago the Confederate White House in Richmond. This seemed to me in some ways similar, I.e not huge and with the feeling of a home as well as a place of business and state. Well stocked with period pieces and memorabilia, and with helpful staff. Interesting and well worth the visit.

This was an absolute gem. We were met by a very friendly guy from New York. He sang to us and it was so good to be greeted like this. He gave us plenty of information. The house itself was beautifully set out and well kept with an informative self tour pack. Definitely recommend.

If you love history this is a great place to visit. Lots of information on the Confederacy and Jefferson Davis.

Having visited the White House of the Confederacy a few years ago, we were looking forward to seeing Jefferson Davis's first residence as head of the Confederacy. Enjoyed the artifacts from his life, though wish there was a more formal tour available of the house. I'd give it a 5 but the rooms were all draped during our visit with quilts from some celebration-hid a lot of things we actually came to see!

The First White House of the Confederacy is a very interesting home to visit in downtown Montgomery. The former home of Jefferson Davis has been well preserved and is very beautiful. I visited the FWHOTC on a field trip with a large group. The tour guides did a wonderful job explaining the history of the home. I would recommend this house tour to those ages eight and above. Children under eight would probably find the house tour boring. Otherwise, this is a great place to visit in Montgomery.

This is a lovely home with special southern history. It also has a tiny gift shop and one room of museum type displays but the highlight was the host. He made you feel the very people and time period of this lovely home. I only wish I could recall his name. Small donation is appreciated.

The gentleman who greeted us and gave an introduction speech was very nice.
The visit is interesting and free. He even offered a complimentary bottle of water.

This was one of our stops while visiting the Archives museum. It's actually next door. But the man who greeted us is Super Friendly...very Informative and really nice. The house is decorated beautifully with lots of history items to be viewed. Don't miss it.

It is definitely a must see and the historian working there knew just about anything and everything about this era! I'm pretty sure he could write a book! The house is small and a fairly quick walkthrough but he made the entire experience memorable and fun!

this is a pristine site. and exceedingly important in the vibrant memory of a bygone era of Dixie! i heartily endorse this impressive icon of southern history! the grounds are immaculate, the building is in superb repair and to walk in the footsteps of southern heroes is a wonderful experience. not an overwhelming large structure, the southern charm however is inescapable. anytime you are in the heart of montgomery, alabama, this is a stop you really should not miss. awesome!!!

Very beautiful house and furnishings. Lots of historical artifacts. Nice stop if you are short on time as you can spend as little or as much time as you want. Another plus is that it is free.

The house is furnished beautifully and had the early design of open concept people look for today. Much of the furnishings in the house are from the period when Jefferson Davis lived there. All the rooms are large and attractive.

Do not miss this fascinating place - full of wonderful exhibits, and truly "coming alive" thanks to Bob, the amazing guide who will welcome the visitors and share his vast knowledge and passion for the history presented here.

I love civil war history and this is awesomeness! Its great to wander in the history and see all the great pieces in each room.

Built in 1835 this "White House" served as the First White House for the Confederacy in 1861 and was occupied by Jefferson Davis and his family. Davis only spent 4 months here as " the confederate president" and then moved to Richmond, VA. This house is well worth your time to view. It has all the bedrooms, sitting rooms etc perfectly preserved with furniture and artifacts from the time. The volunteers are extremely well versed in its history and are quick to kindly answer all questions.

House is open for self touring and worth taking time to visit. Beautiful period furniture is found in all the rooms.

Relocated from its original location in 1920’s. Was first home to Confederate President Jefferson Davis in 1861 for a few months before the Confederate capital was moved to Richmond, VA. Free admission and parking available nearby.

Great amount of history here! Original building, authentic furniture, clothes, letters and relics. Free admission. Interesting. Nice little gift shop too.

The docent staff were very friendly and informative. All questions were answered in depth. The house is in excellent condition.

This house was only inhabited by Jefferson and Varina Davis for approximately 2 months. However, according to the staff, 40% of the artifacts were the property of the Davis family.
There is a book to provide information for the self-guided tour and visiting the house is free. The staff were not only welcoming, but enthusiastically answered questions.
Well worth an hour!

So much history at this site! When I first visited, there was a school group there, and one of the employees asked me to come back after the group was finished. I did, and it was worth the wait.

The museum is very interesting and beautiful. We had a great time chatting with you Bob! 😉 best regards Virginia + Michael

The First White House of the Confederacy is located across the street from the Capitol of Alabama in downtown Montgomery.

Admission is free and we were met by a very friendly and knowledgeable volunteer, who gave an excellent introduction to the building and its history. The interior is quite interesting and the site is definitely worth a visit.

Firstly, this is not in its original location, it was moved to where it currently is. However, it is a beautiful building filled with glorious furniture. To some people that is a good enough reason to visit - we prefer to learn about the people who lived there. Jefferson Davies is a fascinating man and is covered reasonably well, but the 4 out of 5 comes mostly from discussions with the guide who was fascinating and knowledgeable.

Free museum and self guided tour. I would have enjoyed a guided tour because hard to read and see the rooms with people trying to see rooms as well. Felt rushed and didn't read the guide much. Furnishings in home were from the Davis family. Four stars because of the preservation of original furnishings.

Much of what you will see in Montgomery is from a civil rights perspective. This attraction represents a pro-Confederacy perspective. One of the people associated with this attraction was certain to tell us about his ancestors who fought for the Confederacy and were imprisoned by the Union. All-in-all, it is an interesting visit and one that is conveniently located.

Montgomery has a lot of historical sites in terms of the Civil Rights movement and the Civil War. The house is in the middle of downtown, across from the Capitol Building and right next to the Alabama Museum, so easy to get to and a lot to see and do around it. It is an important part of history to take in as the dark chapters of history are just as important as the successes. Worth the visit.

Even to foreigners to whom the Union/Confederate schism is not a mainstream part of history this was a very interesting visit, enhanced by the enthusiasm and knowledge of the duty staff member who brought some aspects alive.

The docent was amazing. He has a PhD. in American History and you could tell he had a passion for it. The most welcoming museum I have ever been to! I love the seeing the preservation of history.

Things I wished I had done differently... park behind the house where there was apparently free parking rather than in front of the house which was metered and allowed only 30 minutes maximum (the meter said it was illegal to recharge the meter). Had I not been rushed by the meter I would have taken more of an opportunity to listen to the docent more.

Downtown Montgomery is a very walkable city. We didn't go inside the house, but we took a self guided walking tour and saw the capitol, the First White House of the Confederacy, and the Civil Rights Memorial. We also drove past the Court Square Fountain and visited the impressive Museum of Alabama. Everything was within easy walking distance. So much history in this city. Visiting the First White House of the Confederacy felt like an odd and disrespectful thing to do on a family vacation, especially since we just finished paying our respects at the Civil Rights Memorial down the street, but it is still a piece of our history that cannot be ignored and I used it as a teaching moment for my children.

You don't find many old buildings in the States so we were fascinated to take a look at this when passing whilst on a Montgomery self guided walking tour.
Furnished with period detail and with very good descriptions of each of the rooms and stuff in them.
An interesting brief diversion.

A visit to Montgomery is almost like a pilgrimage with so much history to absorb; for anyone interested in history and politics, this is a must.

We visited the house, which is right next to the Alabama museum while on NBCA recent fly drive holiday through Alabama. Very interesting house especially as we had before been around the other confederate White House in Richmond. Many interesting artefacts to view. Probably about a 1 hour visit time to do it justice.

The exterior of the house and the grounds are beautiful. The interior furnishings are original to the home, and include many of the Davis family's belongings. The memorial room upstairs is full of rare Confederate historical items.

This is a great place to learn more about life of the "upper" class in the mid 1800's, and a little about the south in the Civil War period. Nice feather in the cap for Montgomery to have a well preserved structure such as this in the city. Along with the other historical buildings it brings the historical period to light. Along with the Civil Rights monuments and memorials this historical site is worth visiting.

First White house of the Confederacy. So historic. This is where Jefferson Davis lived. The gentleman who welcomed us into the house very informative & had a great personality. Furnishings were so beautiful for that period. Just a must see. Like stepping back in time.

I am proud to be submitting the 600th review. It was a fantastic place to visit. Bob was a delightful host and met us with cold bottles of water as soon as we entered. Both host were very knowledgeable and could answer any question we asked. Each room is filled with many items to look at. Be sure to go upstairs and see what’s up there as well. If we find ourselves in the area in the future we will certainly go back.

We enjoyed our visit to the first white house of the Confederacy and learned that there were three different ones. Greeter was informative and courteous. Tour was self guided.

The house you walk through (they allow you to self tour which is important to me) was the residence of President Jefferson Davis. They also did a good job giving you information on many personal items and they also have authentic furniture from the period. You can learn about what happened in 1861, Jefferson Davis' story, and about the preservation of the house.

The man working there was very friendly and was ready to answer any question you might have. We talked to him a bit on the front porch before we left and he told us some funny stories about the house which we really enjoyed hearing.

We visited the First Confederate White House in Montgomery, AL while visiting family for Christmas. It is a beautiful home with a rich history and has been lovingly furnished with period pieces. Costumed musicians entertained us with Christmas carols sung in the 1800s which my 3 year old and 1 year old grandchild thoroughly enjoyed.

After it became Alabama’s capital in 1846 and before it was known as the “Cradle of the Civil Rights Movement," Montgomery was chosen as the first capital of the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861. Jefferson Davis was sworn in as President of the newly formed nation two weeks later, and soon after had his first eight-member cabinet meeting. The search for an executive mansion followed in short order, and soon the Confederate Congress authorized the leasing of an 1835 Italianate-style house for $5,000 a year; the Davis family only lived here for a few months before departing for Richmond. The house was moved across the city to its present location in 1919, and has been listed on the National Register of Historic places since 1974.

A tour of the property is self-guided and spread out over two floors. After a brief discussion with the onsite docent, I started in the Relic Room on the second floor. This functions as a small museum and is filled with dozens of authentic period items such as Mr. Davis’ three-piece wool suit, a Confederate Battle Flag, and period firearms. A brief description of the events leading up to secession rounded out the room. The remaining rooms on the second floor were then visited, consisting of guest bedrooms and the nursery. A tour of the ground floor followed, including the President's and First Lady’s bedrooms, two parlors, a formal dining room, and the library/study. A small gift shop rounds out the experience; I spent about ninety minutes in the building.

Overall, this attraction and its associated furnishings with the internal museum were as interesting as they were modest. There aren’t any fancy digital displays, interactive consoles, or virtual reality options…. but that would seem a bit out of place to be honest. The docent (Bob Wieland) was very knowledgeable and engaging, answering my numerous questions flawlessly. As a new student of the Civil War, I was probably more intrigued than most as my learning curve on many of these topics is still rather steep. Is this a first-tier attraction like Andersonville or Fort Pulaski? I would say no. Is it a worthy stop in addition to maybe a tour of the Alabama State Capitol? I would say yes, especially given the proximity between the two.

Dr. Bob makes this place a super destination for those travelers interested in history, or even architecture. The house is in amazing condition considering their funding is not supported by tax revenue. You'll tour two floors filled with original and period pieces of furniture. Plus, if you enjoy seeing personal items owned and used by historic figures (Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee) then visit the second floor relic room. We devoted more than an hour here and could have stayed hours longer. And we are Yankees!

So many pieces from the family make this site quite interesting. We did the self tour and the paper guides were quite good.

One of the must-see attractions, conveniently located next to the State Capitol and other landmarks regarding the Civil Rights movement. The house is small but beautiful and with its original interiors, its preservation by the ladies remarkable and you have a glimpse into history. Our guide was very helpful ! Great experience

Almost surreal to find this place within three blocks of the Civil Rights Memorial Center and the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where MLK was pastor. That's the interesting thing about Montgomery though - so many layers of history overlap. This site is well-maintained with many period artifacts, and the staff is welcoming and informative. Don't expect to hear much about the Civil War, although you'll learn a lot about the War Between the States, and the War of Northern Aggression. And don't be surprised to find an African American woman behind the counter of the gift shop. Lots to think about here, and some perspective to be gained.

Whatever your thoughts on confederate symbols today, the facts are this was part of our history. And from that aspect, this is an excellent historical site on Jefferson Davis and for civil war buffs. Well worth the visit. It's free (donations accepted) and self-guided. The guy working the entrance area was very nice and talkative and full of historical facts about the house. A lot of authentic items in the house. There is parking along the street out front that is metered. Was there on a Friday afternoon and no traffic at all. This area of Montgomery and over towards Dexter Ave felt quite safe to walk around to see the sites. Unlike Birmingham.

We were at the Capital and saw this beautiful house across the street. We went for a visit and were very glad that we did. The gentleman working was so nice and informative. I love looking at older houses and getting more information about the time period and this house didn't disappoint.

A beautiful home full of history and many artifacts of the first Confederate White House. The guide was very pleasant and gave us a very unique insight on the house and the history of that period.

In viewing a home for the political leader of the Confederacy, you have two choices, Montgomery or Richmond. While the home in Virginia is more elegant and yes, the Davis family spent more time there, this site in Alabama is an unexpected treat. It's quaint compared to Richmond and has numerous unique artifacts but is limited by its own size. The staff is very gentile (as you would expect for South Alabama) making the visit very much a throwback to an earlier mindset. If you want an understanding of what Montgomery was before Civil Rights, the First White House provides a great warehouse of what was held sacred.

You can’t miss the important and unique heritage site of the US history. The details are breathtaking

Very interesting and historical house. Beautiful
Furniture and paintings. We stopped in Montgomery to see this after seeing it advertised. So glad we did as it’s a beautiful place.

This is a fascinating visit, with lots of memorabilia as well as the displays in actual rooms. The history of the house is interesting, given that it was moved to its current site almost one hundred years ago. What made it for us was the guy who welcomed us and all others with such interest and enthusiasm. I didn't get his name, but were impressed with his knowledge and kind manner.

Quaint little house, with nice staff. Bought a civil war map and the salesman gave us some cotton on the stalk as a freeby.

Went with my class to nearby sites, but they were closed due to a state holiday. While we were sitting on the steps of a nearby state building having a class discussion, a man dressed as Jefferson Davis approached and invited us to see the 1st confederate white house. It was closed, but he opened it for us to have a special visit. Very interesting and educational. Worth seeing when you are in the area.

The first white house of the confederacy is a small, intimate museum with a few interesting artefacts that make it a worthwhile visit. What made our trip special was the interaction with Bob, our host, who took a keen interest in explaining the building and its contents to the family and ensured we had a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting visit. Thank you Bob for bringing the museum alive!

We loved it. And it was free. And a great experience. History that is unrevisionist and memorabilia from the War and Jefferson Davis.

We really enjoyed touring this place and seeing the way it was back then. They have done a great job preserving this historic place and do a great job of showing it off. My family learned a lot and still talk about it months after the experience.

Well worth the cost of visiting since its free and a nice house.
The home is historical of course and gives some basic history.
Easy to see as its next to the hsitorical archives museum.
The Richmond Va home is more interesting but this one is worth seeing if you have time.

Thanks for making it free and available Alabama. And please dont tear down monuments in my opinion they are historic and any smart person understands that slavery was not right but monuments are historical and should be kept.

I lived in Montgomery 30 years before I finally entered the Little White House. I enjoyed walking about this small home of history and was so disappointed it is treated like an afterthought. There are no tours and it is not open on weekends. Like many things within the state, it is not promoted. For a town seeking tourist this is a waste. It could be so much more.

An unscheduled stop on our trip as we located it by accident and found it interesting.. the docents were very thoughtful and insightful. Many preserved items and only ask for a donation if you choose... Really enjoyed learning about Jefferson Davis and his family. Beautifully preserved home

I love history so this house was the place for me. My husband and I stopped in one afternoon and we were greeted by Bob as we entered. Bob was from New York and really knows the history of this home. He was helpful and answered all questions. He gave us a beautiful book about the home and then we walked through on a self guided tour. The rooms are done according to the time period and some of the original furniture and personal effects that belonged to the Davis family are placed throughout. The house is just gorgeous on the inside. All of the items in The President's Bedroom belonged to Jefferson Davis. The Relic Room contains the belongings of President Davis and his family. This was my favorite room as there were letters, jewelry, clothing, flags and so many interesting pieces that you could view up close and read about. There is a small gift shop in the rear of the house. It's definitely something you should make time to see if you are in downtown Montgomery.

There was a lot of historic displays throughout the home. We had a great tour guide who shared insights about the home and how it was used. We got to see artifacts from the war, paintings, and other historic pieces in display cases. It was a great stop.

Being from Georgia, I have visited an another White House of the Confederacy, and both have been beautiful. The First White House of the Confederacy has been meticulously preserved and outfitted with period antiques. Well worth the visit.

This was a fun tour. I love civil war sites so I was very excited to go here. The guide was friendly and it was cool to walk through the house and absorb all the history. The house was in amazing shape considering how old it was. My teenage daughters like it too.

Did not know that one of the “six flags” over Texas was the first confederate flag (not the battle flag).

If you follow this blog you know I love historical places. Six months ago my son graduated from OTS in Georgia. Little did I know this part of america was the second and arguably the most vital military location for the Confederate army. I've seen things and locations not taught in K-12 public schools. In short, I was blown away.

First White House of the Confederacy is where Jefferson Davis first led the Rebels against the Yanks. In all honesty its just a ten or more room two story house. Ah, but the history! Each room exudes life during the civil war. Upstairs were the family rooms. Down stairs is where President Davis hosted guests, signed documents and strategized the conflict. I say conflict because at this point no one actually thought this military event would more than several months.
To walk in the same rooms as Davis is eerily cool. Due to the size of the house it is easy to find yourself in an empty room. I was waiting to see a confederate ghost floating past a door or old man Davis yelling for me to get out to the fields. War artifacts abound!

Is this house and story worth a trip? Yes. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on the Alabama Register of Landmarks. Literally across the street is the state capital. Also very worthy of a visit.

Entry fee is by donation, and worth more than the ten dollars I gave for my family of four.

The First White House is a beautiful piece of architecture and history. It's proximity to the Alabama state archives (which has a wonderful museum as well), the State Capital building, and Dexter Ave. King Memorial Baptist Church, makes it a definite must see. The staff are friendly and informative. There is a lot of original furniture and family memorabilia which has been preserved. Highly recommended.

An excellent host - Robert - very informative and learnt a lot!! Well worth the short visit to the house.

A beautiful executive mansion for Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family when Montgomery was the capital of the Confederate Sates of America. Greek and Italian architectural influences are seen in its exterior.

Furnished with beautiful period pieces, art work and artifacts. Tastefully done, historically accurate, inspiringly beautiful! The guide is enthusiastically knowledgeable and interesting on the home, the Civil War period and the Jefferson family. Highly recommended! Free Admission with suggested donation.

I didn't exactly know what to expect out of my visit but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The grey haired host was very knowledgeable and inviting. It was a quick self guided tour but they provide booklets and a guide if you have questions.

I love Civil War history and was so glad to finally tour this place. It is so beautiful inside and well kept. Seeing the life of Jefferson Davis at home teaches us of his love of faith and family. The staff was so nice-guy from Albany NY took water to my parents in the car and gave us free guide book of the house. It was very well laid out for a home museum. I want to go back!

This is a great museum to learn about the history and culture of the time period. I love visiting this place over and over.

My daughter loves Civil War history - this is a must see for anyone that enjoys history. Very pretty house with great artifacts!

A beautiful home and museum that takes you back in time.
You will learn history the way it was lived.
This was the residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and you will see where he slept, ate, relaxed, met with guests and planned history with other men of the South.
The entire home is completely furnished to look like it did in the 1800s.
While the house is a museum itself, the upstairs has a room with items from that era and from the Civil War such as clothes, swords, flags, letters, gifts from leaders, Confederate money and a lot more.
This is a must-see and admission is free.
You can spend a day in the area as the Alabama State Capitol is across the street, and that is filled with history as well.
But start by enjoying the first White House of the Confederacy.
I did.
George Vreeland Hill

This house holds our nation's history of the Confederacy. It is a quickly little history lesson with a self guided tour that should last 30-45 minutes. Bring quarters for the parking meter. The tour is free!

The home has been beautifully preserved, well maintained and the self-guided tour was very nice. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommended!

Most people are familiar with Montgomery's role in the modern Civil Rights struggle. Few are aware of the role the city played in the war. I have been to the homes of many of our past Presidents, and it is always informative. This is no exception. Do yourself a favor and don't miss this.

Always seeking Civil War destinations, we found that the First White House was a wonderful walk back in time. The furniture is not period but the originals used by the family. The relic room is a treasure of information about the war and its Confederate President. The tour guide, Yankee Bob, is a great host and it took us about 1 1/2 to see, photograph, and read the documents. The artwork is impressive.
Best part is it sits right in the middle of gorgeous architectural buildings in downtown Montgomery.

I have visited other homes of Jefferson Davis. The home did not disappoint. It met our expectations. Beautiful furniture and information detailing the time the capital was there. I was surprised there was no cost. Well worth a stop.

One of the best historical house tours I have ever taken. The home is beautiful and the guides are very well informed.

Self guided, but greeting staff very knowledgeable. Neat old place full of Jefferson personal items,

I've been visiting several of our Civil War National Parks (Vicksburg, Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry, Antietam) and accidentally came across a sign for the former Jefferson Davis White House. I found it a very interesting,educational experience. There are a lot of artifacts from the time period to view along w/ belongings from Jefferson Davis. Glad I visited.

The house appears to be well maintained and it is filled with many interesting relics from when the Jefferson family lived here. The hosts are very hospitable and admission is free.

Definitely worth the visit. Jefferson Davis was an interesting fellow, with a sad history. This is part of American history.

Wonderful historic site. Great free museum. Friendly staff. Loved seeing the antiques and some belongings to Jefferson Davis. Very informative self guided tour. Beautiful historic place to visit. Would recommend to anyone that finds themselves in the area.

This was a true gem! We thoroughly enjoyed touring this beautiful home and chatting with one of the curators. The furnishings are beautiful and appropriate to the period. We were stunned to learn that the house was moved to its current location in 1921!!!

We enjoyed the tour, and learning the history behind the confederacy. Well done. Highly recommend for adults & teens. The tour guide was very lively.

Even if you disagree with the politics and issues of the confederacy (as I do) this is still a fascinating place to visit. Am insight into the White House of the south which is unique in its history. Great artefacts and interesting host to talk to

When we stepped in the door we were greeted by Bob! He was absolutely delightful and made us feel at home! He is definitely an asset to the museum. It was my mom, niece(24), nephew (16) and myself. We really enjoyed this stop. We left Alabama and went to the Ocean. We stayed on the beach and had an awesome time. With that being said I think we all agreed that our favorite part of our vacation was this stop. The museum was nice but Bob made the whole experience so much better. Definitely worth the time. We will definitely come back if ever in the area again. Thank you Bob for being kind, helpful and most informative!

Only viewed from the street as it was not open on Sundays. No lot available, must use street parking. Beautifully preseved, iconic southern house, located in the capitol region—not its original location. Appears very out of place, but serves as a reminder of the past. Had mixed feelings about its preservation given what it represents, however it would have been interesting to see what was displayed inside.

The historical home is free to enter.

We were met by the "guide" who was a real delight. Incredibly knowledgeable, just great to talk to .

Contents of the house were OK, but not great.

Worth 30 min to 1 hr.

This is one of the VERY FEW ways to learn about the important role that Alabama played in the Confederacy and one of the few places you can still learn about Jefferson Davis since the current mayor is trying to erase his name and erase any history of the Confederacy. No matter what side you're on, history should never be erased.

This house is small but had many original artifacts to Jefferson Davis and the confederacy. Even though this house was only used for a short time by confederacy some key events occured here. It is a good stop for all you like history

We really enjoyed to look every rooms at First White House of the Confederacy. Every rooms are very beautiful. Wow! Interesting about history.

We came in as a lot of other people did, we maybe should have waited. The house is small but has a lot of info but I feel with the amount of people I didn't have time to read I had to move as fast as possible so others could see. I feel like the house probably had spurts were lots of people come in then points where it's not as busy. The house is nice just wish I had more time to not feel rushed. We did come during the weekday so not sure of weekends are less busy. I would think not but there is lot of paid parking around the area another thing we were seeing graceful let us use their parking so we didn't have to move or pay.

First the good news, admission is free! This "White House" was actually only used by Jefferson Davis for a couple of months, so there really isn't much Civil War history associated with the building. The contents and furnishings are nice with several pieces that actually belonged to the Davises. The problem is after your tour a few of these antebellum homes, they all look the same. It's still worth a stop.

This memorial and museum sheds a great deal of light on the history and issues associated with slavery. Definitely worth a visit.

This was a very educational and finally presented Museum. The rooms were clean and the docents were informative. I learned a great deal about the White House of the South. Anybody who has a chance to see it, should.

This was the first White House of the Confederacy, where Jefferson Davis lived for a short time. It’s just beside the State Capitol and is worth a visit, it’s all part of the history.
We were there at the weekend and there was plenty parking

Right next to the fabulous history museum and state capitol, so don't miss it. It will not take long to see, but the guide on duty made the visit spectacular. He was loaded with information and his enthusiasm for telling the story of this place was greatly appreciated.

We love old houses and this one's a beauty. Originally built elsewhere, disassembled and then reassembled it's chock-full of artifacts and furnishings. The self-guided tour is easy to understand so if you like history and old houses it's a great thing to do. Did I mention it's free admission!

This was a beautiful house. Loved the furniture. Lots of relics and artifacts of the Jefferson Davis family. If you are a history buff you don’t want to miss this!

If you're into confederate history you need to go. Jefferson Davis only lived there a few months but it was the first CSA presidential home. The price was very reasonable and the docent very knowlegable.

It’s free and air conditioned. Nice place to see and learn a little about history. It’s right across from state capital which is also free. Just find a meter and park. The house will take about 30 minutes.

Well by far the best part of this tour was "Bob" our amazing host who was so animated and full of life that we never wanted to leave. He was even courteous enough to provide me with a cold bottle of water because it was a hot day. These Aussies loved the experience and sucking in the history.

The tour is free and self guided with informative. An interesting view of the time period especially as we have also visited the Confederate White House in Richmond, Virginia.

Visited this location because we were in Montgomery for the day. Inexpensive admission. Contained many of Jefferson Davis’s belongings, furniture etc. Highlighted Jefferson Davis’ life.

Stopped info this little gem while visiting Montgomery. We decided to walk from Mellow Mushroom to here, and the walk wasn’t bad.

Coming into the house, we were greeted by a tour guide and was immediately offered a bottle of water (it was awfully hot that day we went). The rooms are just amazingly preserved and the house is full of rich history.

Upstairs has a room with a lot of artifacts that pertain to Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee and the confederacy.

If you are a big Civil War buff then most definitely stop in and see this beautiful house! We stayed for about 45min walking around, but could easily stay longer.

I like history places is hard to believe but yea up is a unique experience is a history treasures you don't want to missed.

If you’re a history buff of any kind this is a stop you should really check out! No matter your views on the issues today you’ll enjoy seeing the old artifacts from paintings,furniture,and the home itself... and the guys working inside were the nicest people I’ve met in a long time! They greeted us after we walked in and GAVE us a ice cold bottle of water that actually had ice in it! Hot day outside that was the nicest thing a stranger has done for me in years! Polite,helpful and informative is the best way to describe the gentlemen working there and the First White House was a Awesome stop on our site seeing trip.

Free! The most difficult thing about this experience was finding a parking spot. If you can find a metered spot, just take it and pay on the app. If you go next door behind the Archives, there is a small free parking lot marked with a brown sign for parking, and you can just walk over.
We were met at the door by Bob, a very passionate Civil War historical who will answer all your questions and then some.
The museum itself is small - maybe 30 minutes- but sit and hear al the stories if you have time.
Then go across the street to the Capitol for more Civil War history.

What a well maintained historic site. Free to the public. It has a lot of collectibles in the relic room, and each room is filled with a wonderful collection of period furnishings. Bob was a warm and welcoming addition, rounding out our visit to make it splendid.

A paean to southern gentility whitewashing. Well kept except for whole dinning room plaster collapsing on furniture. Very friendly staff happy to tell you all about the benevolence of the Confederate President and his wonderful wife. Assorted revisionist histories abound from politicians. One understands Jeff Sessions after walking through this and the capitol. Well worth a visit.

Welcomed by Yankee Bob you step into a beautiful foyer full of information. There are self guided tour books. This two story home shows furniture, clothing and relics from the 1800s from the Davis family. Good stop to see when in Alabama or Montgomery. This was a free historical spot. Gift shop has many historical items. Great for those wanting to see southern or civil war spots.

Very nice museum with lots of civil war history. The museum is free. It’s definitely worth a stop. The curator was friendly and knowledgeable.

There is a ton of history, donations and heirlooms in this house. We mostly enjoyed reading about each room as we walked through. It's easy to get swept back in time as you explore.

This is a free tour, they have items for sale.

If you love history this house is a gem for civil war enthusiasts. Easy to get to off of the interstate and directly across from the Al state capitol. Self guided tour but knowledgable people available to answer questions.

This was a requested Christmas present for a teen who loves history. The grounds and building are beautiful and packed full of antiques and information. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and equally friendly. This was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!

My wife and I drove to Alabama due to Hurricane Irma. Now that the actual storm is gone and the weather has cleared we decided to visit Montgomery. We stopped at the First White House of the Confederacy. What a pleasant surprise!

This place is a gem. This is a beautifully preserved historical site with charming folks working there. Robert is a treasure trove of information on the house, Jefferson Davis, and the Civil War. He made all this history come alive and interesting. He offered us bottled water and some small chocolates. They are very lucky to have a guy like him at this site.

I highly recommend visiting this wonderful piece of American history. It will be well worth your time.

A glimpse into life at the beginning of the Civil War.
The museum director was very knowledgeable and welcoming.

From the outside it is a bit underwhelming but inside you do find documents and photos of major players.

This house preserves a divisive moment of history without recognition of the broader regional and national contexts. Throughout the house, the guide book refers to Davis as "President Davis" and lavishes attention on domestic details such as Davis' Wedgewood washstand and bedroom slippers. By isolating these details from a broader historical context, the viewer fails to grasp the broader dynamics the propelled the Confederacy. A disappointing monument to teacups that studiously avoids history.

Very nice atmosphere and guides. If you're intestested to US Civil War you must stop here!!!
Bob and Evelyn are incredible persons: very nice and avaliable.
Please, if you're here, stop here!
GLR

This was a great opportunity to learn more about Jefferson Davis and the early Confederacy history. This house has been well preserved and is loaded with historical furniture and collectibles. It is definitely worth a visit.

Close walk to Civil Rights Museum, Capitol complex, Dexter Ave. King Memorial Baptist Church, and First Baptist Church of Montgomery...entry is free. House has great displays and is laid out well. Staff is friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.

Great place to educate kids and enjoy Montgomery.

We made a stop here on our way out of Montgomery. We didn't get a tour, but a guide gave us a quick overview of the family that lived here, and the Jefferson Davis/Confederacy connection. Not an essential stop, but worth a few minutes if you're nearby.

We added this stop in while on the old Alabama Tour and it did not disappoint. What a great piece of preserved history.

This was a nice little house that showed Jefferson Davis artifacts. The gentlemen in side was very friendly and knowledgable. He offered bottle water and candy to us and talked about the house and items in it. This is a short stop but well worth it to get a glimpse of history.

We're glad we stopped at this historic spot. The furnishings are original to the home, and the family. There are some neat artifacts and items upstairs especially. It's a self guided tour, but there is a guide there who is very knowledgeable; almost a bit annoying at times. This was our only reason for not ranking higher. We had a difficult time escaping him, and would have liked to have been left alone to read the descriptions rather than his interruptions. Check this spot out though.

I was with friends that weren't as interested in visiting this site as I was. Luckily, there was no admission, so we could just pop in, And on a brutally hot day, the fantastic docent who greeted us, ran and brought back a tray of bottled water for everyone who visited to drink. It was so kind and bought me time to check out the House. Very interesting paintings and artifacts. Easy to see and the docent was filled with answers to any questions you might have.

Located across from the Capitol, this was a great little tour destination. Jefferson Davis only lived in the house for a few months before going to VA, but there are lots of original items on display. The tour guide was extremely friendly and knowledgeable.

This place breaths confederate history. It's great to see how the Jeffersons lived and in which rooms the important confederate decisions were made. Entry is free and the historian is very knowledgable and friendly. It's easy to park in front of the door, 25 cents for 30 minutes.

If you've any interest in the civil war and the south try to get along here. Reletively small but with lots of stuff of interest and your visit will be made worthwhile by the lovely and well informed staff here.

From the moment you walk in you are transported back in time to the Civil War. We were greeted at the door by a volunteer who shared lots of helpful information about the history of the house and its contents. The tour is self guided and you are given a binder that describes each room and the artifacts found there. We even had the chance to spin some thread from cotton.

We popped in whilst in Montgomery & enjoyed viewing the rooms & artefacts on display. Free to enter.

A simply amazing storehouse of historical artifacts about Jefferson Davis, and Bob, the new museum curator, is like a walking encyclopedia and an amazing man to listen to. This was our second visit to the place and it was better than the first. There's no charge to tour and like stepping back in history. The new carpet from England is incredible.

It is in remarkable condition, and is FREE to get in. The docents are incredibly helpful and nice. When my daughter told them that she is a history major, they even gave her a free book from the book store. The furnishings and other period pieces, such as clothing and jewelry, were beautiful and well preserved.

This home was moved to the location and tells the story of Jefferson Davis and his family who lived here before the Capitol of the Confederacy was moved to Richmond,Va. This free attraction has books available to provide a self guided tour of the beautifully furnished home. There was also a volunteer who was more than willing to share information about the family, the home, etc. It is a quick visit, but it gives an idea of how a family of wealth would live.

Because we arrived after hours, we assumed we could only photograph from outside. After a few minutes of photographing every angle we could to drink in from the outdoors, we took a chance and approached the door. When it opened, we were not only greeted, but warmly welcomed and invited inside. Most places from our experience would have had their foot in the door and we'd be turned away if we arrived slightly late, so it was very refreshing!

Bob was very friendly and warm and made us feel right at home as if we were family. We were offered bottled water and we were not pressured to scurry through due to closing time by any means. Instead, we were encouraged to explore at our own pace and take in this unique experience.

The First White House of the Confederacy was clean, well maintained, and very informative. The relics and pieces from the period were exquisite, and we were encouraged to take as many photographs and videos as we pleased. Having been raised in the north, I had chosen to purchase a postcard with a cotton field on the face as I'd never seen a cotton field before. When Bob learned this, he went to a back room and came out with a small bundle of cotton for me to take home! He was very generous in numerous ways and I felt sad to wave goodbye. It was a cheerful and memorable experience, and we urge everyone to visit and support this historic place.

Also, although history can be found to be dark or light, history should be preserved. Every country, civilization, and race has had 'bad' history. We need to learn from it. By taking care, the good, the bad, and the ugly are not brushed under a rug. It is important to revisit and understand the process and progress we as human beings have/haven't made, and reflect on these.

We tried to visit today, but it’s closed! So disappointed. We drove over 60 miles one way after checking the website to make sure they were open.
Please update your website!

The First Whitehouse Museum is considered an excellent house museum and a "must-see" for anyone interested in architectural history or Southern Culture. I was a bit disappointed in the historical narrative when describing Davis and his position on slavery. A bit too watered down and sort of race baiting, if you ask me. Davis was not for the perpetuation of slavery, but he also realized the increasing national and international demand for Southern cash crops and natural resources. Without the technology being developed in Europe, slavery would persist. Davis promoted the import of European mechanization and the elimination of slavery on regional farms. He was extremely in favor of a gradual emancipation to eliminate full stop hardships and a socialized welfare state. When the federal government imposed high tariffs on European farming technologies at the request of northern foundries and bankers they perpetuated slavery. The Southern farmer was thus "chained" to the institution. With no choice, slavery was needed in the territories when new farmland was opened up to meet rising demands for the raw materials needed to fuel the growing industry and population in Northeast. The historic paradigm that demonizes Davis and the Southern Cause is a strange irony. It bred resentment due to the social, cultural, and financial impacts. Today, this false narrative used to originally justify the federal government's war upon its citizenry is politically charged and used to divide our people on the basis of race. The museum should tell the whole story and vindicate the kind and humane nature of Jefferson Davis and the people of the American South.

We were welcomed like family. Cold water on a hot day. My teen sons said that visiting here was the highlight of their vacation. The hosts were informative, fun, & we all learned so much.
It’s totally free. Such a gem.

Beautiful home in a very nice quiet part of the city. If you have an interest in history its work a stop.

Clearly a black eye of USA history, but still need to be aware of and acknowledge. Free and staff is awesome...Only a 30 min to 45 min at most. Meters all around for a quarter a half hour so 50 cents at most imo.

Look folks, Montgomery, Alabama. I'll leave that there. This place is great. Exceptionally well preserved. Tons of historical artifacts. Nice little relic room. You can swing through quickly or take your time with a tour. Yankee Bob is the man you want leading you through the house. Make sure you swing by the First White House and meet Yankee Bob.

This was not a planned stop, but as my wife and I passed through Montgomery on our way from Atlanta to Texas, we noticed the sign. It was after 5pm, but we decided to pass by and snap a picture or two. I'm so glad we did. Despite the fact that we missed visiting hours by 30 minutes, we were greeted by Bob, the museum curator, who offered to RE-OPEN the house so that my wife and I, and one other family could see inside. What generous hospitality on a Saturday evening! He proceeded to give us a detailed history of the building and some of the history of the forming of the Confederacy. When he found out that I was a history teacher in TX, he gave me a free poster. He even re-opened the gift shop so we could make a few purchases. Bob, if you're reading, we can't thank you enough.

This building is packed with history of Jefferson Davis and his family, as well as other key Confederate contributors. Be sure to see the Relic Room upstairs. It seems that in today's world, this is a period of history that we are trying to wipe from the history books. While the institution of slavery clearly has no place in the world, it's important to study and acknowledge this period of our great country. Hundreds of thousands of people were dedicated to the point that they were willing to give their lives for the cause of the Confederacy. This building is a great window into some of that history. It's well kept, and definitely worth a stop. Located just a mile or so off the interstate, you can hop off, and visit in about an hour.

Spend time listening to one of the curators to get the back story of this authentic and important piece of Southern history. Well worth a stop!

What made this visit so amazing was the enthusiasm of the gentleman who greeted us at the door...Bob! He had so much information and answered the most detailed question. We got a real flavor not just for the house itself but for the history behind it, before and after it's use as a "White House." They've done a wonderful job of refurnishing and many items are original belongings to Jefferson Davis including the family Bible taken by a union soldier and returned decades later by the family. Step back into history and hopefully Bob will greet you at the door!

Even though there is a room in which official meetings regarding the Confederacy were held, I think it's a stretch to describe it as the White House. It's the home of Jefferson Davis with a room in which he had meetings as I said and a guest room for dignitaries. Otherwise, it was a private residence.

That said, there are a lot of artifacts personal and political. If you like history in general, you will enjoy this self-guided, free, tour. If you go there expecting to see an apology for the Confederacy, you will be disappointed. I read some of the reviews in which people were frustrated that it didn't revise the history and others that were upset that it didn't emphasize points of importance in favor of the Confederates.

It didn't matter to me, either way, but I did expect there to be more emphasis on the Confederacy and not just one person, even if he was the leader. Maybe just rename it, "The Home of Jefferson Davis After Secession"? I rated it four starts because it is still worth seeing if you are in Montgomery, it is right next to the capitol, and loaded with historic artifacts, and there are people there to answer questions whom I did not find to be rude as others have said.

This is a great free museum. It's certainly worth an hour. Located just across the street from the State Capital. It's a self-guided tour with plenty of insights of the Jefferson Davis family. Lots of original furniture.

This is an antebellum home that was used by Jefferson Davis and his family during the early months of the Confederacy when the capital was in Montgomery. It has a lot of lovely period pieces and the docent was full of interesting information he enthusiastically shared. There is a small gift shop there also. This is a place you should visit because it is interesting and conveniently located to other attractions. It is next door to the Archives and History Museum (a very nicely done museum) and across the street from the state capitol building. Plan for about 45 minutes there if you linger to hear some information from the docent. If you like history this is a place to see.

We very much enjoyed visiting the First While House of the Confederacy. It is a self-guided tour, but the gentleman (a native New Yorker), who greeted us was very informative. I told that I could have stayed and talked history for hours. It took us about 30 minutes to go through the entire house. The furnishings are exquisite and tgey do have several of Jefferson Davis' personal effects on display. The admission is free, which is amazing for such a historical treasure. It's a great site to see along with the Alabama State Capitol, as it's right across the street. i highly recommend it for anyone interested in history.

On our trip we just wanted to walk by and see this place. When we arrived the host was so thoughtful and nice, we decided to walk through the place. I am so glad we did the walk through. It was very informative and the artifacts in the house made you feel like you lived in that time. This was a great surprise and I would highly recommend this visit. We were there for about 45 minutes.

Pro - this place is free
Con - it’s a weird mixture of random mix matched relics.
There was only one person working lunch time on a Saturday so there are a couple of photo copied self guided to explain what you’re looking at. As a foreigner I find it confusing how the civil war is still celebrated so much in the south. If you’re interested in seeing how people loved during that period then pop in here for a quick five minutes

I went with my husband, and 17, 13, 11, 10 and 6 year olds. Our guide, Jason, was friendly and full of wonderful facts. He was enthusiastic about answering our questions and always offered extra bits of information. There is meter parking all around so make sure you have some coins in your car - it shouldn’t cost more than a dollar. We were all offered a refreshingly cool water bottle, which was very thoughtful of the staff. I highly recommend touring this home!

Interesting to see how they lived. There's free parking at the back. We were greeted with a cold bottle of water which was very much appreciated.

Closes at 4:30, sits across from the capitol building. Was able to walk around the outside & read the plaques. Neat quick stop

This is a good stop to view a historic site and don't have a lot of time. The guide is knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He was interesting and informative. We got a good look at where Jefferson Davis lived during the early confederacy.

This historic home is well supported by the state of Alabama and it shows. I love walking through such places and this is one of the better examples of a beautifully furnished home from the 1860's. There's a free guide and a staff to answer questions. My grandson is three and he liked peering into the various rooms and asking about the furniture and decor.
This is well worth a stop as is the handsome Capitol building just across the street.

Currently hosting a quilt display. All quilts are Civil War era though. The home has multiple Davis personal family effects such as a family bible, multiple portraits, vanity table items from Mrs. Davis, etc. Free entry. Parking is just outside at meter, on weekends Montgomery has free parking all day Sat and Sun at all meters. Takes roughly 1 hour if your read everything. They have a small gift shop as well.

This was an amazing find just off the interstate and across the street from the capital building. The museum is free and the staff is very friendly. The place is like a time capsule of the past and is very easy and enjoyable to visit. Also go next door to the Alabama History Museum in the huge Marble Building. Its amazing and free too.

Really enjoyed this tour. My hubby & I are trying to go to all the Confederate history places we can before they are all gone. Robert was wonderful and Gave us some information that wasn't on the self guided tour. Bought some souvenirs and wished there was some more to buy! We would have bought more!! Great great history here. Enjoy it for the history. Leave the current politics behind. Thank you Alabama for preserving all of our history. Not just a chosen few pieces

A lot of history and artifacts done well. Very knowledgeable and friendly hosts. Worth a stop. It’s also free.

There are going to be people who will say that the first White House of the Confederacy should not be in existence, but I am glad that this part of history is preserved so we can see this side of the challenge to our union over 150 years ago. You have to see even the dark side of history to fully understand it, and therefore not repeat it. The gentleman who greets you is a wonderful patron of civil war history and is eager to share his knowledge with all those that step into this historical building. There are incredible artifacts from Jefferson Davis (clothing, books, furniture, confederate flags, etc.) that populate the entire house, and are worth examining. We got goosebumps as the gentleman recounted how Davis would receive General Beauregard in one of the back rooms to discuss next steps in the war. We certainly appreciated seeing this side of the Civil War, and we did give a small donation in the form of a five dollar bill with the Great Emancipator's face on it. Something fitting about that. :)

Great historical museum across from the state capital in Montgomery. The house is well maintain and has great self guided information in each of the rooms. The curator was friendly and very knowledgeable. Free to visit.

Interesting piece of history. Well preserved. Informative and quite personable guide who was able to answer many questions.

We thoroughly enjoyed our self tour of the Confederate White House. It is across the street from the Capitol so it is convenient to visit. We actually parked near when visiting the Capitol so easy to see. They have decorated it as best possible as it would have been when the Davis’ lived there. A lot of history and information.

While the home was interesting, the exhibits seemed too supportive of the confederacy without a moderating "modern" view of that piece of our country's history. So, it was interesting historically, but bordered on being offensive.

Since I was a kid this was a bucket list item for me. When I was told this historic house was just 90-minutes away, I demanded we go. Price, a suggested donation. However, they should charge at least a dollar. After visiting Columbus Ga. You must see where Jeff and company came up with a crazy idea to split the country. Yes, it's just another old house with old furniture, but with international implications. How can I say international and not national, the ironclads were built over seas and sailed to the states. Our infighting scared the European's, fore we created the most advance naval military to kill each other. This was one of two the house's where it was started. Awesome visit! Yep, i'm a history geek.

Stopped by to tour this and a few other places in Montgomery on our way home from Florida. Was warmly greeted by an over enthusiastic state employee and it was just a little awkward. There was a self guided tour for each room (an old binded booklet) and there’s a lot of stuff in the rooms from the Civil War period that immortalize the Confederacy. It’s a pretty small place inside; the only thing that impressed me was this bright colored original rug from the 1800s.
Didn’t think it would bother me much (the Confederate stuff) but honestly a shrine to this dark part of American history wasn’t my cup of tea. A better use of your time in Montgomery would be spent learning about the civil rights movement than seeing this space.

Visited on 3/30/17. Thoroughly enjoyed the self-guided tour. Docent was terrific - very knowledgeable and extremely friendly. Provided a tour booklet which gave a lot of information about the house, Jefferson Davis and his family. A visit to make if you love American History!

Made a spontaneous decision to visit this home and so glad I did. The docent was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the history of the house. I saw several posts here about a waste of time. Why? Because some have the view that this tour is non politically correct for our time? He was titled as President of the Confederacy and either way this should be noted for what it is, history.

This house served as White House of the Confederacy during the first half year of it's existence in 1861. Confederate President Jefferson Davis lived here with this family before moving to Richmond, Virginia that became the Confederate capital during most of the war. Entry is free. We were welcomed by an very enthousiastic and friendly host that showed us around. The house is not too big. You can complete your visit within the jour.

This first confederate White House was moved from where it had originally been. Apparently they had the White House here until the capital for the south was moved to Richmond, VA. This is right by all the state houses and the capital in Montgomery Alabama.

Since I love history, we had to stop at this home. It housed the Jefferson Davis family for three months before the capitol was moved to Richmond. It is very authentic and has lots of Davis items.

So cool to see a chair that Jefferson himself say in. Just to think about the historical happenings that took place in this home. We visited the Alabama Museum first, which was right next door, and then walked over to this house:). Worth the visit for sure!!!!!

Visited this in early June and what a wonderful place full of southern history. The building exterior / interior is beautiful and well maintained. The staff are friendly and helpful. It is free and just across from the Capitol and State History museum. If you love history, architecture, southern culture, then you will enjoy this experience.

It's a beautiful old home but I was shocked that there was no mention of the enslaved people who must have worked in and around the home. There were paintings, photographs, and a lot of historic items, but I saw no mention of anything to do with black people. Considering that the primary resident of this house was the President of the Confederacy, the man who fought to keep slavery legal, it seems there should be an extensive accounting of how he personally enslaved people. I was confused by the lack of a kitchen but found no docent of whom to ask questions.

This was a brilliant hidden gem of Montgomery Alabama: rich in history and preserved with great taste and panache. Our tour guide Richard was an immensely fun character and a passionate and knowledgeable fountain of Confederate History. The afternoon we passed here was one of the most memorable by far of our four week drive through the US. The First White House of the Confederacy is definitely worth going out of your way to visit.

This home is a real gem. So many of the articles in the home belonged to Jefferson Davis and his family. There is no charge to tour and there is a great booklet that describes each room's contents. We were very impressed with the displays and information. Volunteer Robert was terrific! So funny and full of information - and questions for us as well because hubby is a Civil War reenactor. SO glad we stopped.

Totally enjoying. The home is well maintained with many Civil war collectibles and Jeff Davis personal belongings. The museum is free and is a self guided tour. You will learn a lot about the man who many only remember for his position as the President of the Confederacy. He was quite more than that. He was a great American

It's next door to the Alabama Department of Archives & History. There is no admission fee. There is limited free parking in the lot next door to the MOOseum. The house is just a short walk away.

The house was built by William Sayre in 1834 . He is related to Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald who was married to F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was originally located at the intersection of Lee and Bibb Streets. It passed through many owners within a 30 year period. By 1861, the Confederacy was born in Montgomery, AL. The house was leased that year to the provisional Confederate government as an executive residence to Jefferson Davis and his family. They had only lived there a couple of months after his inauguration on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol. They moved to their new residence known as the "White House of the Confederacy" in Richmond, VA around May of 1861.

With that said, the house was moved to it's present location after sitting in ruin for many years, and restored to what you see today. It's a historic home. It's a good representation of 19th century architecture and furnishings, or a century older than let's say Colonial Williamsburg. I think what interested me the most were the Civil War memorabilia and photos displayed on the 2nd floor. There were models of the CSS Alabama and the H.L. Hunley. I had never seen a Civil War era Navy warship or submarine until seeing the models displayed. There was a sketch showing how the 8 man crew operated it by turning hand-cranked propellers. Yikes! There's a blood stained sock that was worn by Jefferson Davis during the Mexican-American War. Oh, and he also had to sell his pocket watch to buy a pair of boots in Lennoxville, Canada after fleeing the USA. He was basically broke after the government seized all of his assets. Yes, this is all documented in history, but sometimes it's interesting to actually see history.

It's a house to be visited just for the sake of history. If I had to say anything negative, it would be that I didn't see any mention of slavery (which is kind of odd) in any of the displays. Unless, I blinked and missed something. If anything, I'd couple this visit with the Museum of Alabama "Voices" exhibit in the archives building to get the full picture. Other than that, it was a good visit.

First historical site I’ve ever visited where I was met at the door with a bottle of cold water (90+ degree day). Free admission. Personal overview from very knowledgeable historians who explained the relocation of the house, the residency of Jefferson Davis and the life of he and his wife while in residence there. Wonderful furnishings. Must see while in Montgomery

Little civil war history here. A memorial to the man. Lots of old furniture and clothes in a restored Italianate house. Free to visit

Across from Capitol- self guided free tour,
Beautifully maintained to its 1861 accuracy. The Dining Room and his study are especially charming. Allow 30-45 minutes

We discovered this lovely building while exploring Montgomery on foot on a blisteringly hot day. It's easy to find, just look South from the Capitol building.
Inside, it is beautifully maintained, with several rooms to visit. There are very knowledgeable hosts at hand who are more than willing to tell you all about the history of the building. The tour is self guided and runs on donations. We really enjoyed our visit here and learned a lot.

Met the curator at a seminar,Bob. He was so enthusiastic about the Whitehouse we had to go visit. Not disappointed, a beautiful place with lots of historical documents and furniture. Put on your places to see.

The docent gave a wonderful overview of the house. You are given a self-guided tour book that describes in detail the furniture and paintings. What didn't belong to the Davis family is from the time period. The gift shop is small. There are stairs to navigate. Plan ahead as you are next to the Alabama Archives and Research Center which is a great place to do genealogy or history research.

Interesting seeing the artifacts that Jefferson Davis lived with. Another house belonging to a person of privilege. Interesting that the house was moved near the Capitol building in the 1920s. Was it moved by the Daughters of the Confederacy?

If you love history and seeing the things that actually belonged to the family that resided there this is the place for you. The gentleman (I wish I had gotten his name) that gave the introduction to the house was fantastic. He was full of knowledge and background and prepared you for the house. They have a self guided tour which is very informational and provides you with great details. They also have items that belonged to other people important to the country's history. I love the house and really felt like a kid that had discovered something great.

Great. Authentic, friendly guides, take you back in history to see how lives were lived. Well preserved.

This house is across the street from the Alabama Capitol and it is worth a quick visit. The docent was friendly and informative. Not only was Montgomery the Cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, it was also the first capital of the Confederacy and Jefferson Davis was sworn as its President and lived in this house for 4 months. The period furnishings are interesting, it is a self-guided tour that can take 30 minutes.

My family and I visited the First White House of Confederacy in Montgomery, AL. They are CLOSED on Sunday. They are OPEN Monday -Friday from 8am-3:30pm and Saturday 9am-4pm. The admission is Free. The upstairs is not wheelchair accessible. There is meter parking on the street in front of the First White House of Confederacy. It takes about 30 minutes to tour (self-guided). Cameras are allowed. The house has 2 floors. On the first floor you can view the first and second parlor, Dining Room, President Jefferson Davis's Bedroom, First Lady's Bedroom, The Study, and the Entrance and Rear Hall. Upstairs you can see Weskit Room (Bedroom), Cabinet Room (Guest Room), New York Bedroom, The Nursery, and the Relic Room.

This home was very nice. The people were super friendly when you walk in the door. They give you the option to ask any questions that they will answer. The tour is self-guided, which is very nice because you can walk in, look, and take it as much time as you need.

This house and the museum in the state archives building next door are both free. The house is well maintained and the staff were very friendly - that makes a difference for us.

A great and easy stop in Montgomery - the 1st WH of the Confederacy. As many will tell you here, The Civil War and Civil Rights are intertwined in this town as both movements started here - on the same street in a sense. Free to visit and a time machine that is the interior takes you back to the opening days of the war better states. Many have issues with remnants of the Confederacy as it represents a dark, bloody chapter of US history. But it is for this reason among others it must be preserved and studied as by learning the past enlights the way forward. Well worth the visit for the period and authentic items on display.

If you have an hour or so to spend in Montgomery, this is an interesting house museum directly across the street from the state Capitol. The period furnishings and photographs are excellent. Each room in the house has an explanatory panel making the self-guided tour very easy. Since it only served as the home of Jefferson Davis and his family for the first few months of succession it is not a very significant civil war site, but it is an authentic antebellum mansion. The gentleman who greeted me when I visited was extremely helpful and knowledgeable!

We visited with not a great knowledge as this is an area of history we are not taught. The house was interesting from the perspective of the deep divisions of the white population and the black. The artefacts they have are amazing despite some being contradictory in terms of their stated time line. I couldn’t help but think of the slave market not too far away.

While in Montgomery, and if you are any kind of history buff, especially the Civil War era, this is a good place to visit. Jefferson Davis lived here and is well preserved.

The man who greeted us was super nice and offered us water. It is a self guided tour. Cute little gift shop also. Nicely appointed period rooms. Nicely manicured grounds too.

This was my husband's first visit to this historical dream although he is a native Alabamian. It has a "hold" on me; I have been several times, but still a hunger remains to see it again. The Guide, a native of New York, was full of information in addition to being available and very personable. There is a very interesting small museum housed on the 2nd floor which is definitely worth an extra hour of time if one can include it in the schedule. There is a natural beauty in the furnishings, and the portraits will definitely capture the eye. The First White House has a unique history including a very difficult location move. Yes, no doubt, this "attraction" would possibly top my list for Montgomery!

This place is a shrine to Jefferson Davis with no mentioning of slavery or the oppression of Black people by the confederacy. Without historical context, everything in this museum perpetuates and validates white supremacy and systemic racism that is supported by government.
The most disturbing piece of this museum came from a book in the museum gift shop titled, “Black Confederates.” The summary of the book is that Black enslaved people didn’t have it that bad, and actually preferred living in the confederate states during the war.
While I do think these artifacts should exist in order to learn and heal from our violent past, this museum needs to provide multiple perspectives. Otherwise it is simply a monument to white supremacy.

This was a very nice place and it is free to get in. It is very beautiful and lots of information is given.

Beautifully preserved 19th century home that served as the residence and office of Jefferson Davis during the early days of the Civil War. We tagged onto a small group of high-school students getting a tour and were glad we did. The tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable about the house and Civil War history. It doesn't take much time to tour - even with a guide - maybe 1 hour.

Combine it with the excellent Alabama Department of Archives and History next door. Our guide says there is free parking behind the Archives building but we parked on the street and fed the meter.

Although I thought I knew a lot about the beginning of the Confederacy, I learned many new things from our knowledgeable guide. Very well kept and very much worth the trip.

We spent about 75 minutes here. It was good we had some time with the curator, who was very personable and knowledgeable about the history of Jefferson Davis and his wife, as well as the house. We then each picked up a booklet for the self-guided tour; the booklets were informative and very useful, as one could see rooms on the first and the second floor at one’s own pace. The relic room on the second floor contains a lot of interesting artifacts. The iron fence is original and there’s a huge magnolia tree on the right front side of the property.

I had previously toured Beauvoir (Jefferson Davis' Biloxi home), finished seeing the Alabama State Museum next door to the White House and wanted to understand the Confederacy better. I had also read Vina Delmar's book about Judah Benjamin, Davis's Secretary of State, and wanted to learn more about Varina Howell Davis. It is a self guided tour of the home itself and period furnishings (including a Chiffonier made by slaves; I shivered when I saw it as I cannot imagine owning another human being), plus there is an artifact room housing many documents. So if you want to see how the Davis family lived, this is for you. If you want exhibits about the history of the Confederacy, it's not. But I am a Damn Yankee who thinks the Civil War was stupid and senseless and killed far too many people. Oh, and parking is free on weekends so don't make the same mistake we did and feed the meter!

A beautifully maintained building that is completely decorated with period pieces, as well as many personal items of Jefferson Davis. It even displayed the blood sock that Davis was wearing when shot in the foot.

This First White House is located directly across from the impressive state capitol. Metered parking is in front of the building, but free parking located a block away at the Department of Archives and History.

The gentleman that greeted us at the door was extremely knowledgeable and kind, while also displaying great enthusiasm for his work. He even greeted us with a tray of free bottled water.

Finally, there is also a nice little gift shop (with very reasonably priced items) and clean restrooms. Do not miss this hidden gem. And I should also add, it's free!

We stopped in on a walking tour of the area, each room was decorated as is was in the era, it was interesting and well done.

If you love history this is a must stop on any visit to Montgomery. The fact that the first White House of the Civil War is intact is priceless to history.

The Civil War was the darkest hour in our history. Regardless of contemporary politics, those who love authentic historical sites appreciate this building.

Stop by and touch history.

We noticed how low the chairs were in the dining room must have been very short people. enjoyed the room upstairs with the items and letters.

Beautiful home and free to visit!. Volunteer will give some info and you can walk about on your own. Great period pieces.

History is good, bad, and ugly. Free admission to this piece of history allows anyone to visit. Being in the house where so many critical historical decisions were made, in a relatively short time, gives context to some of our history. I am glad we went while in the Alabama Capital area. The guide was very informative providing historical information of what went on in this house.