Henry van der Weyde Exhibit Members-Only Reception
2026-08-20 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History, 975 Main St, Danville, VA, 24541, United States
The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History will present Henry Van der Weyde: Sketches from a Civil War Prison from August 20 through December 27, 2026. The exhibition centers on an extraordinary sketchbook created by artist and Union officer Henry Van der Weyde while he was imprisoned in Danville during the final months of the Civil War.
The exhibition will feature all 46 drawings from Van der Weyde’s sketchbook, presented as high-quality, enlarged, and professionally framed reproductions. Through portraits, landscapes, and intimate scenes of daily life, the drawings offer a rare firsthand visual account of imprisonment in Danville from 1864 to 1865.
Each of the 46 reproductions will be available for purchase. All proceeds from the sales will support the much-needed professional conservation of the original sketchbook.
Museum members will receive the first opportunity to purchase the reproductions during the members-only reception to be held August 20, 2026, at 6 p.m. Any remaining pieces will be offered to the public following the reception.

Henry Van der Weyde, a Civil War Prisoner's Sketchbook Exhibit
2026-08-21 - 2026-12-27
The Henry Van der Weyde, a Civil War Prisoner’s Sketchbook Exhibit offers an intimate look at the work of this remarkable 19th-century photographer, artist, and Civil War soldier. The exhibition will feature Van der Weyde’s original sketchbook, created while he was imprisoned in Danville as a Union soldier, which was donated to the museum in 2012.
Along with the original sketchbook, enlarged, high-quality framed prints of the sketches will be on display and available for purchase. Proceeds will support the conservation of the original sketchbook, which requires significant structural treatment of its pages and binding.
In conjunction with the Van der Weyde exhibition, DMFAH is partnering with the National Museum of Civil War Medicine to present the traveling exhibition “The Toll of War.” This exhibition explores how Black and white soldiers and civilians faced the harsh realities of war during and after the conflict.
Several fascinating artifacts from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine will also be on display, including a Civil War-era surgical kit and three objects carved by prisoners at Libby Prison: a wooden ring, a bone ring, and a bone whistle.
The exhibition will also be accompanied by two speaker presentations. On September 15 at 6 p.m., local historian Jarred Marlowe will present “1,323 Graves in the Tobacco Soil: The Civil War Atrocities of Danville’s Warehouse Prisons.” and on October 13 at 6 p.m., a representative from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine will present a program exploring amputations and surgical practices during the Civil War.
Join us for this fascinating, months-long exhibition and its accompanying educational programs exploring art, imprisonment, medicine, and daily life during the Civil War. Publications

The Toll of War, a National Museum of Civil War Medicine Traveling Exhibit
2026-08-21 - 2026-11-30
Accompanying, the Henry van der Weyde Sketchbook Exhibit, Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History is partnering with the National Museum of Civil War Medicine to present the traveling exhibition The Toll of War, an exhibit on soldiers and citizens both black and white and how they dealt with the harsh realities of war during and after the conflict.
Several fascinating artifacts on loan from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine will be on display, including a Civil War-era surgical kit, and three items carved by prisoners from Libby Prison- a wooden ring, a bone ring, and a bone whistle.

1,323 Graves in the Tobacco Soil: The Civil War Atrocities of Danville’s Warehouse Prisons presentation by Jarred Marlowe
2026-09-15 18:00 - 20:00
On September 15, 6 pm, to accompany the Heny van Der Weyde exhibit, local historian Jarred Marlowe will give a presentation entitled 1,323 Graves in the Tobacco Soil: The Civil War Atrocities of Danville’s Warehouse Prisons, which will explore Danville’s transformation from a prosperous tobacco hub into a crowded Confederate prison town during the Civil War.
Given by local historian Jarred Marlowe, the presentation will dive into the brutal realities faced by the prisoners, who endured freezing winters, starvation rations, and a devastating smallpox epidemic that quickly spread from the compounds into the local community. Attendees will learn about the severe conditions inside the barren factories—including Prison No. 6, where captured Black Union soldiers faced the harshest treatments—as well as the unique interdependence between the prisoners and the struggling townspeople who shared their daily deprivations.
Despite the horrors of the camps, the presentation will also highlight profound moments of humanity. Stories include paroled Federal prisoners staffing a makeshift riverfront hospital, and Danville’s beloved Episcopal minister, Rev. George Washington Dame, who risked his own safety to bring food, books, and spiritual comfort to the captives daily. The event is free, open to the public, and concludes with a Q&A session.

ART ON THE LAWN 2026!
2026-09-26 - 2026-09-27
Art on the Lawn
September 26–27, 2026
Art on the Lawn, Danville’s beloved annual juried outdoor art festival, provides regional artists with a vibrant platform to showcase and sell their work, including paintings, pottery, photography, sculpture, jewelry, mixed media, and more.
Join us September 26–27, 2026, for a weekend celebrating creativity, community, and culture. Hosted by the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, Art on the Lawn brings together artists, musicians, cultural organizations, and art enthusiasts from across Virginia, North Carolina, and beyond.
Each fall, the grounds of the historic Sutherlin Mansion are transformed into a lively outdoor marketplace featuring exceptional artwork, live music, food vendors, family-friendly activities, and opportunities to connect with fellow artists and the broader arts community. Whether you are an artist, collector, or visitor, Art on the Lawn offers a unique opportunity to experience the best of regional art in a welcoming and inspiring setting.
Attendees can expect a diverse selection of local and regional artwork, live performances by four local bands, food trucks, specialty beer from Two Witches Winery and Brewing Company, a children’s art area, and a variety of other activities and attractions throughout the weekend.
For artists, Art on the Lawn offers a professional venue to showcase and sell their work while connecting with new audiences, collectors, and supporters. The festival also provides valuable opportunities to network with fellow artists, cultural organizations, and potential patrons, helping strengthen and grow the regional arts community.
Artists are eligible to compete for cash awards, including:
First Place: $1,000
Second Place: $500
Third Place: $250
In addition to the juried art show, Art on the Lawn offers a full festival experience for visitors of all ages. Guests can enjoy live music, a variety of food vendors, and a beer and wine tent, while families can participate in hands-on activities designed to inspire creativity and imagination.
This year’s children’s activities include a community canvas where children are encouraged to paint freely, face painting, bounce houses, a treasure hunt, and other engaging art and educational activities.
The festival’s Nonprofit Alley will feature local organizations dedicated to advancing art, history, culture, education, and community development. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the important work being done throughout Danville and the surrounding region.
Music is always one of the highlights of Art on the Lawn, and this year we are excited to feature four talented local bands performing throughout the weekend, creating a lively atmosphere that complements the art, food, and community spirit of the festival. Bands this year include Phase II, the League of Ordinary Gentlemen, and Gabriel Van.
Art on the Lawn is more than an art show—it’s a celebration of creativity, culture, and community, bringing together thousands of visitors each year to experience the vibrant arts scene of the Dan River Region.

Tickets
No tickets needed, Art on the Lawn is Free! The museum will also be open to the public for free on September 26 and 27.
Schedule of Events

FRIDAY, Sept 25

LOCATION

noon-5 PM
Set-up time for artists

Lawn and Auditorium

SATURDAY, Sept 26

LOCATION

7:00-10:00
Set-up time for artists

Lawn

10:00 AM
Art on the Lawn Opens to the Public

10:30 AM
Welcome and Announcements

Front Porch

11:00-11:30
Judge announces artists’ winners

Front Porch

12:00-1:30
Workshop Storytelling Group with Clint Atwater

Auditorium

12:30- 2:00
Band 1: Phase 2

Front Porch

1:30-2:30
Demonstration on Lawn: Jonthan Scollo Pottery

Lawn

2:00-2:30
“Meet the Cast” of Smokestack Theater’s recent play, Mousetrap

Front Porch or Front Steps

3:00-4:30
Band 2: League of Ordinary Gentlemen

Front Porch

5:00 PM
Art on the Lawn Ends for the Day

SUNDAY, Sept 27

LOCATION

9 AM- 11 PM
Set-up time for artists

Lawn

11:00 AM
AOL Opens to Public, Announcements

Front Porch

12:00-12:30
Fred Motley Storytelling Program

Tree on Lawn

2:00-3:30
Band 3: Gabriel Van

Front Porch

3:30 AM
Closing Announcements
Raffle Winners Announced

Front Porch

4:00 PM
Art on the Lawn Ends

Civil War Amputations - Presentation by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine
2026-10-13 18:00 - 19:30
In conjunction with the Henry Van der Weyde Exhibit, on October 13 at 6 p.m., a representative from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine will present a program exploring amputations and surgical practices during the Civil War.

Paranormal Investigation of the Sutherlin Mansion
2026-10-16 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-10-23 18:00 - 19:30
More Information to come

Children's Holiday House
2026-12-05 10:00 - 12:00

Holiday Fundraiser!
2026-12-17 18:00 - 21:00
