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The American Civil War Museum was formed in late 2013 when two Richmond institutions, the American Civil War Center and the Museum of the Confederacy, joined forces to become the preeminent center for the exploration of the American Civil War and its legacies from multiple perspectives: Union and Confederate, enslaved and free African Americans, soldiers and civilians.

Building an American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar was meaningful, because 500 Southern cannons were built right there at the Iron Works. Historic Tredegar is the Richmond region's official gateway to the Civil War, and home to the Richmond National Battlefield Park Visitor Center. It is the best place to get oriented before traveling to the area's battlefields and other Civil War sites.

In the American Civil War Center, for once you can understand the whole story of the conflict in one place from the perspective of the Union, Confederates, African Americans, women and children before, during and after the War. Covered here are 4 films about what caused the war, the Emancipation Proclamation, the war at home and the legacy of the war. You can also see Lincoln life masks from 1860 and 1865. You will learn that ending slavery was not the original objective of the war for the North, it was actually to keep the Union together. There are daily programs and demonstrations during the summer, and weekly programs during the spring and fall.

The Museum of the Confederacy-Richmond has three floors of galleries containing a vast collection of Confederate military and domestic artifacts, photographs and documents from the Civil War. It includes personal belongings of famous generals and from common soldiers, and civilians who were at the home-front. Walking around, you can see General Robert E. Lee's tent, Stonewall Jackson's blood-stained handkerchief and forage cap, and General J.E.B Stuart's thigh-high boots and plumed hat.

The White House of the Confederacy next door was the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family during the War. Guided tours of the house start all day long from the museum lobby. When you walk in, notice the entrance floor - it is actually a canvas painted to look like tile, and the house is decorated with faux marble wallpaper and cornices. There's a grand dining room, a "real" toy cannon and surprisingly - a George Washington portrait.

The museum shop has a good selection of books, toy soldiers, CD's and cards.

The Museum and White House of the Confederacy - Hours: Daily 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar- Hours: Daily 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Both The Museum & The Center are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day.