The UDC Memorial Building to the Women of the Confederacy, located in Richmond, Virginia, serves as our national headquarters and is a lasting tribute to the organization’s legacy, the women of the Confederate States of America, for their loyal devotion, self-sacrifice, adaptability to new tasks, constancy of purpose, exemplary faith in never changing principles (plaque in the Great Hall).
The hallowed ground on which this building stands was once the property of R. E. Lee Camp No. 1, Confederate Veterans, the home for aging soldiers. It was given by the veterans to the Commonwealth of Virginia, which in turn, deeded it to the UDC in 1950, with an additional gift of $10,000, as an incentive to move from St. Louis, Missouri to Richmond.
By these gifts, Virginia paid tribute to the women of the Confederacy and the men they called up to defend the Commonwealth in 1861. The Virginia General Assembly was desirous of our Organization to be headquartered in Richmond because they thought it valuable to preserve history.
Completed in 1957, our building houses historical archives, rare artifacts, paintings, two libraries, and genealogical records that provide insight into the lives of Southern families during and after the War Between the States.
The building not only contains our Business Office but serves as a museum showcasing the remarkable Southern people, and encompasses the Great Hall (a space for our meetings and memorial observances).
We have been caretakers of this property for the Commonwealth of Virginia for more than 75 years.
On May 30, 2020, rioters broke every window in the building, painted graffiti on the marble walls and burnt the library, foyer and front offices in a vicious attack. This unwarranted and unpunished attack cost $4.1 million in repairs.
Despite threats, a riot and a fire, the UDC ensured our legacy and place in American history. Like the phoenix, we have risen from the ashes.
