The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History’s mission is to inspire community cohesiveness and facilitate impactful education through the advancement of art and history in the Dan River Region.
Located at 975 Main Street, Danville, Virginia, the museum features changing art and history exhibits, engaging programs, community events, education programs, and art classes. DMFAH actively collaborates with local organizations and educational institutions to bring art and culture to residents and visitors throughout the year.
The museum’s board prioritizes diversity and inclusion, ensuring that its leadership and programming remain accessible and relevant to all members of the community.
In addition to changing exhibits, the museum showcases four primary exhibits:
- The Camilla Williams Exhibit, which highlights the life and achievements of Danville’s renowned opera singer.
- The Movement, an exhibit dedicated to the people who led the Danville Civil Rights Movement.
- Behind the Lines, an exhibit that explores Danville’s role during the Civil War.
- The Danville Hall of Fame, an exhibit that honors influential figures from the region.
The museum is housed in the historic Sutherlin Mansion, an Italian Villa-style estate built 1857-1859. Designated as a Virginia Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the mansion has played a significant role in local, state, and national history.
During the closing days of the Civil War, Jefferson Davis and the Confederate cabinet fled Richmond to Danville. From April 3-10, 1865, they lodged and met in the Sutherlin Mansion. Davis and the cabinet members learned of Lee’s surrender to Grant while in Danville, and Jefferson Davis wrote the Last Proclamation of the Confederacy at the Sutherlin Mansion. These events at the end of the war led to the Sutherlin Mansion’s title, “Last Capital of the Confederacy.”
From 1928-1972, the mansion housed Danville’s Whites-only public library. In 1960, it was the site of one of the first protests against segregation policies in Danville. See DMFAH’s YouTube channel for videos about the history of the Sutherlin Mansion.
The museum is a designated site on the Civil War Trails and the United States Civil Rights Trail, connecting it to broader narratives of American history.
With a rich collection of paintings, photographs, sculpture, pottery, furniture and historic objects, combined with the unique history of the Sutherlin Mansion, the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History tells compelling stories of the people and events that shaped the Dan River Region and beyond. Visit us today!
