Plan Your Visit

Plan Your Visit

Camilla Williams Exhibit Audience

The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History is located on the historic Main Street in downtown Danville, VA, between Holbrook & Sutherlin Avenues, featuring permanent collections and rotating exhibitions, as well as the Swanson Studio, a Research Center, and the Perkinson Rose Garden. The Museum provides films, as well as self-guided gallery tours of the Camilla Williams Exhibition, the Sutherlin House Museum and 20th Century Art Collection; the Civil War Exhibition and the Civil Rights Histories. 

The gift shop is open whenever the Museum is open.


Tours

Self-guided tours are available in the Museum. 

For group tours, please contact the Museum Event Coordinator: 434-793-5644


For the following Guided Walking Tours, contact Joyce Wilburn at 434-770-1974.


Sutherlin Mansion House Tour

Tour the Italian Villa style mansion built in 1859 that was home to Major William T. Sutherlin and family. Discover the role this historic house played during the final week of the Civil War.

The Sutherlin House Tour is available to all and we offer self-guided tours to visitors.

You can also enjoy these online videos:

Return to top


Camilla Williams

The Camilla Williams exhibition highlights the relationship this New York City Opera diva had with her hometown, Danville, and explores the difficult path to frame in a racially divided South during the Civil Rights protests.

Return to top


Between the Lines

This tour explores the role of Danville and its citizens during the Civil War. Participants will take on the identity of a soldier from the 18th Virginia Company and will learn about their commanding officer, how the ladies of Danville helped prepare them for the army, and what their army career entailed.

Return to top


Danville Civil War Sites

Visit the Sutherlin Mansion, the Danville National Cemetery, Major Sutherlin’s grave, and more when you go on this guided tour of Danville’s Civil War History.


The Movement: Danville Civil Rights

You are welcome to walk through all the exhibits at the Museum on your own with self-guided tours.

This tour walks you through the evolution of the Danville civil rights demonstrations that began peacefully late in May 1963 when local civil rights leaders organized demonstrations, sit-ins, and marches to protest segregation in all spheres, but especially in municipal government, employment, and public facilities. 

Return to top


Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame was established by the Danville Museum in 1974 to recognize and honor citizens of the area whose achievements have been outstanding. 

Return to top


Cemetery Tours

You are welcome to walk through these local Cemeteries on your own.

Danville National Cemetery

This tour explains why Union soldiers were in Danville and how they became buried in this cemetery. This tour is very interactive and includes locating gravesites and making grave rubbings.

Grove Street Cemetery

While strolling through Danville’s oldest cemetery, you will learn the history and lore of some of the city’s earliest inhabitants. 

Green Hill Cemetery

This tour includes information on Civil War and Victorian burial customs, gravestone symbols, architectural features, and glimpses into the past of many noteworthy citizens. This tour involves extensive walking.

Return to top


Millionaires' Row

 Guided Walking Tour

This tour opens with a brief lecture on Victorian architecture and a tour of the Sutherlin Mansion. This is followed with a walking tour of Millionaires' Row. Architectural details will be pointed out along with stories about some of the past residents. This tour does involve walking: wear comfortable shoes.

Reservations required: 434-770-1974

Return to top


There's a Story Here

 Guided Walking Tour

Your personal guide will tell stories about the people and buildings on Holbrook Street, where the professional African-American people lived from the late 1800s until the late 1960s. 

Your guide will show you: the church where Camilla Williams sang; the houses that were listed in Green Book, the guide for traveling African Americans during segregation; the location of the William F. Grasty Branch of the Danville Public Library; the residence that housed a restaurant for African Americans, and more.

Reservations required: 434-770-1974

Return to top


The Secrets Inside

Guided Walking Tour  

Learn little-known facts about the historic buildings and their former residents on or near Millionaires’ Row. An easy 60-90 minute brisk walk takes you into the heart of Danville, Virginia’s Historic District, where you’ll marvel at the beautiful Victorian mansions and churches. Your guide will tell stories about the buildings…and the secrets within their walls. 

Reservations required. 434.770.1974

Return to top