What would it have been like to live and work in Washington, D.C. during the Civil War? flags flew just across the river in Virginia. This program offers the Civil War through the unique perspective of the White House and the viewpoint of the presidency. Students explore topics such as security in the nation's capital, the president's daily life, the public's perspective of the president, and the Emancipation Proclamation.

For Educators: Pre-Visit Lesson/Activities

This pre-visit lesson plan and accompanying image sets were designed to prepare students for our Civil War White House in-school program, a free outreach program available to teachers in the DC Metro Area.

If you are an educator outside of the DC Metro Area, this lesson includes several engaging activities perfect for classroom use. Instructions for each image set and reproducible can be found within the lesson the plan.

Pre-Visit Lesson Plan and Background Information:

CIVIL WAR WHITE HOUSE  [PDF]

BACKGROUND  [PDF]


      Image Sets:

      1. "Lincoln's Face" [PDF]
      2. "Civil War White House"  [PDF]


      Reproducibles:

      "Civil War Timeline"  [PDF]


* These materials are for educational use only and unless otherwise noted, copyrighted by The White House Historical Association

Field Trip Program

Participate in a free field trip program about Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation at The National Center for White House History at Decatur House

Paths to Freedom

Program Related Online Resources

For more information about the White House and the Civil War:

The Lincoln White House (Educator's Resource)
Photographs of the Lincoln White House
African Americans and the White House
Using Art to Study the Past
White House at War

White House History Online Resources

Picturing the President's House
White House Time Machine
The President's House and Its People (Betty Monkman)
The President's House (William Seale)