POTCS historical sites: Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederate States of America (POTCS) historical sites
Jefferson Davis sites that I have visited:

Jefferson Davis Birthplace Fairview, KY
                                               

First wives (Sarah Knox Taylor) birthplace

 marker Vincennes, IN

Inaugural site at Old Alabama State Capital Building Montgomery, AL

Home at First Confederate White House Montgomery, AL

                                               

Prison cell Ft. Monroe, VA
                                               

Gravesite in Hollywood Cemetery Richmond, VA

Enterance sign to Jefferson Davis birhplace Fairview, KY

Jefferson Davis Birthplace. Complete with a huge Washington Monument type memorial.

It's about 3/5 the size of the Washington Monument. But it seems bigger considering it is in the middle of Amish Country

A historical marker at the Davis birthplace. Oddly enough U. S. President Lincoln was also born in Kentucky. About 100 miles or so from his Confederate counterpart Davis.

This church sits at the corner of the Birthplace State Park property. And it is the exact location of the House in which Davis was born in.

I made a brief, early Sunday morning stop at Jefferson Davis' birthplace in late March 2012. We had just left Nashville and the birthplace was one of three sites we hit on the way to St. Louis. The Park wasn't open yet. So we got some pictures of the large memorial and were on our way before long. It was kind of strange driving there. We must of passed 10 Amish horse drawn carriages on the way to the Monument. Which honestly seemed very out of place. But it was cool to see, none the less.

This historical marker in Vincennes, IN makes mention that nearby was the birthplace of Sarah Knox Taylor Davis. She was the daughter of President Zachary Taylor. She married Jefferson Davis but she died just 3 months into the marriage.

 

                                                   Me at the Old Alabama Statehouse

Old Alabama State Capital Building Montgomery, Alabama. This was the first Capital of the Confederacy so this is where Jefferson Davis was sworn in as the First (and only) President of the Confederate States of America. 

This star marks the spot he was standing when he took the oath of office

                                         At the first White House of the Confederacy

Across the street from the old Capital is the First Confederate White House. Davis lived here until the capital was moved to Richmond, VA

Inside the First Confederate White House. They had a self guided tour. The next few pictures are of inside. 

Ft. Monroe, VA. site of Jefferson Davis' prison cell from 1865 - 1867

Outside of the prison area where Jefferson Davis was held

A painting on the wall showing Davis' prison time.

My daughter Khloe and I in Davis' prison cell in 2010

 In June 2010 we did a weeklong trip to Virginia, DC and some sites in Pennsylvania. I set aside one day to see some lighthouses along the Virginia coastline and hit the beach, for my wife. One of the lighthouses that we visited was on Ft. Monroe Island in Virginia. The lighthouse ended up being small and left much to be desired. But we found out that Ft. Monroe also happened to be the place that Jefferson Davis was held prisoner for the 2 years following the Civil War. What's more there was a museum where you could see the cell. Well I had to check this out. We did, however make it brief so that it would cut to much into my wives, lighthouse and beach day.

Base of Jefferson Davis' gravesite in Hollywood Cemetery Richmond, VA

Klo and I at Jefferson Davis' gravesite. June 2010

For people like me and some of my friends, who hunt down the final resting places of the Presidents, Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond is a very convienent place. You need to go there anyways to see the gravesites of Presidents Monroe and Tyler. You may as well see the gravesite of the Confederacy's only President while you are there.

Jefferson Davis was a Senator from Mississippi and Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce before the Southern states seceded from the union in 1860. They eventually formed the Confederate States of America and chose Davis as their 1st (and only as it would turn out) President. The American Civl War would last for 4 years until Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865 at Appromattox Court House, VA. I find the Civl War to be an interesting time. And the aftermath is kind of hard to grasp. In most countries Lee and Davis would of been tried for war crimes and / or just hung from the nearest tree. But Davis would spend 2 years at Ft. Monroe prison until he was cleared of any involvment in the Lincoln assassination. Lee was allowed to retire and lived in Lexington, VA where he died in 1870. Davis would pass away in 1889, at the old age of 81.