American Civil War Museum

On one of the daily guided tours at The White House of the Confederacy, visitors will learn about this meticulously restored National Historic Landmark that was the executive mansion for Jefferson Davis, his wife and children from 1861 to 1865. However, many more people lived and worked in the house besides the Davis family. Learn about the enslaved and free African Americans, European immigrants, and personal staff who worked in the home, as well as house visitors like Robert E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln.

“Appomattox” is one of a few place names that is not only shorthand for an historic event—the surrender of General R. E. Lee’s Army and the end of the Confederate States of America—but also a metaphor—for the end of the war, a new beginning as a reunified nation. ACWM-Appomattox’s permanent exhibit explores stories using more than 400 artifacts, photographs, and documents – including the uniform coat and sword that Robert E. Lee wore to the surrender, the Appomattox parole lists, and a dozen audiovisual stations that bring rich human stories to life. A new temporary exhibit “Local Stories, National Struggle” takes you to Appomattox and Lynchburg as the communities encountered the tumult of the Civil War. The many paths of life that locals followed are represented here by nine ordinary individuals. Through them, we catch a glimpse of the scope of the national conflict through the lens of those who experienced it.

ACWM has extensive educational programs that span all locations and take ACWM’s programs out into the community:  • Book Talks: Authors discuss their latest works. Attendees learn more about the American Civil War and its legacies while engaging with authors in Q&A.  • Bottimore Lectures: Visiting lecturers explore the Civil War.  • Civil War Conversations: This casual monthly program explores the Civil War and its legacies through talks with local, regional and national historians. • Foundry Series: A social evening with a brief talk and Q&A session. • History Happy Hours: Features history’s lesser known stories of the Civil War at a local watering hole. • Symposia: A day-long deep dive into topics around the Civil War and its legacies. • Annual Teacher’s Institutes: A week-long Teachers Institute and a 3-day Civil War 101. • Online Resources: Educator Resources, Searchable Collection, and Program Video Recordings

ACWM provides school field trips that include customizable guided tours of three crucial Civil War museums—ACWM’s Historic Tredegar and White House of the Confederacy locations, and the Richmond National Battlefield Park’s Civil War Visitor Center. Students become historians, exploring primary source documents and artifacts to delve deeply into human stories of the Civil War. Field trip programming will allow students to analyze facts, evidence, and situations surrounding a problem or choice so that they can work together to develop solutions. Lesson plans, field trip itineraries, and wrap-up activities are provided to teachers for preparation before the field trip and follow-up afterwards.  ACWM also provides a shortened version of the same programs in classrooms.  The Museum maintains a “scholarship program,” from funds given from generous donors, to provide access to these programs free of charge to classrooms with financial need.