In June of 2025, we drove to Richmond, Virginia, as part of our vacation, and one of the stops on our itinerary was the White House of the Confederacy. This location stood out to us not only because of its major role in Civil War history but also due to the numerous paranormal stories and reports we had come across during our research. With our long history of visiting historic and haunted locations, this stop felt like a natural addition to our trip.

The White House of the Confederacy served as the executive residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family during the Civil War. The building itself dates back to the early 19th century and has witnessed some of the most turbulent years in American history. Its walls have seen political strategy, personal tragedy, and the eventual collapse of the Confederacy, all of which contribute to its reputation as a place heavy with atmosphere.

Over the years, the house has also developed a reputation for reported paranormal activity. Stories of unexplained footsteps, disembodied voices, and shadowy figures are often tied to the building, particularly in the upstairs rooms where the Davis family once lived. These accounts were part of what intrigued us and made us curious to experience the location for ourselves.

By this point, we have visited well over 450 historic and haunted locations and taken hundreds of tours across the country. We understand that not every experience will be perfect, and we try to approach each location with patience and respect. We also believe in giving honest feedback, knowing that sometimes a bad experience can simply come down to an off day or unforeseen circumstances.

We drove into Richmond directly from Williamsburg on our way home, making the White House of the Confederacy our first stop in the city. Since we had not yet checked into our hotel, we followed the instructions on the museum’s website and parked in the designated hospital parking deck nearby. From there, it was about a two-block walk to the house.

That walk turned out to be more challenging than expected. It was around 95 degrees outside, and Marianne had just recently finished her chemo treatments. The heat and distance made the walk difficult, but we took our time and pushed through so we would not miss the tour we had planned for.

When we arrived at the location, we were informed that the first scheduled tour had been canceled. We were told we would need to wait for the second tour time instead. While this was disappointing, we understood that things happen and decided to wait rather than leave and risk missing the next opportunity.

An alternative was suggested for us to walk down to the nearby Capitol building while we waited. While this was also on our list of places to visit, the heat was intense, and we were concerned about both the physical strain and the possibility of missing the second tour. Because of that, we chose to stay near the house and wait.

As the second tour time approached, more and more visitors began to arrive. The crowd steadily grew, and it became clear that this tour would be much larger than expected. Once inside, we learned that the tour had actually been overbooked by about six people, which immediately affected the experience.

Inside the house, everyone was packed closely together. It was difficult to move from room to room, and in many cases, it was hard to see the objects being discussed or hear the tour guide clearly. The tight quarters made it challenging to fully absorb the history and atmosphere of the house.

Much of the tour guide’s attention seemed focused on keeping visitors on the carpeted paths and preventing anyone from touching the furnishings. While preservation is important, this constant emphasis became distracting and took away from the storytelling and historical context we were hoping to hear more about.

Because of the crowding and the way the tour was managed, it was hard to connect with the space itself. The rooms felt rushed and constrained, and there was little opportunity to pause, reflect, or really take in the significance of where we were standing.

Given the building’s history and reported paranormal activity, we had hoped for a more immersive experience. Unfortunately, the logistical issues overshadowed both the historical and atmospheric aspects of the visit, leaving us feeling more stressed than inspired by the end of the tour.

In the end, we can say that we have visited the White House of the Confederacy and checked it off our list. However, based on our experience, it is unlikely that we would return in the future. While the site itself is undeniably important, the overall visit did not meet our expectations.

Even so, Richmond remains a city rich with history, and this stop did not diminish our appreciation for the many other historic locations in the area. Sometimes a visit simply does not go as planned, and this was one of those moments. We take it as part of the journey and move forward to the next chapter of our haunted and historic travels.