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Brick tobacco warehouses and the old Dan River Mills still line the river in Danville, a Southside Virginia city of about 42,000 that once processed a large share of the country's bright-leaf tobacco and woven cotton. Wealth from those industries built the grand houses of Millionaires Row, and many of them still stand along Main Street.
Danville also has an outsized place in history. In April 1865, Jefferson Davis briefly made the Sutherlin Mansion the last capitol of the Confederacy, and in 1903 a mail train famously plunged from a trestle here, inspiring the ballad The Wreck of the Old 97. Nancy Astor, the first woman to take a seat in the British Parliament, was born in a house on Broad Street.
Today the River District is being revived with restaurants, apartments and a riverfront park, while the Riverwalk Trail follows the Dan River for miles. Kids enjoy the Danville Science Center in the old train station, summer brings Otterbots baseball, and Caesars Virginia adds a resort casino on the edge of town.
Housed in the 1850s Sutherlin Mansion, where Jefferson Davis and his cabinet stayed for a week in April 1865, making it the last capitol of the Confederacy. Exhibits cover that episode and local history, and the galleries show changing art exhibitions. It sits on Millionaires Row, so walk the street after.
Set in the restored Southern Railway station that still serves Amtrak, the science center has hands-on exhibits, a digital dome theater and a seasonal butterfly station. It suits families with young children, and trains roll past outside. Allow a couple of hours and check the dome schedule when you arrive.
A stretch of Main Street with one of the finest collections of Victorian and Edwardian houses in the South, built by tobacco and textile families. Turrets, wraparound porches and stained glass fill the blocks. Most homes are private, so enjoy them from the sidewalk on a self-guided walking tour.
The historic downtown by the river where tobacco warehouses and mill buildings are being turned into lofts, restaurants and breweries. A riverfront park and festivals bring people back to the water. Wander Craghead Street and Main Street for the old brick facades, then stop for dinner overlooking the river.
A paved trail that follows the Dan River for several miles through the city, past old mills, wooded banks and parks. It is popular with walkers, runners and cyclists, with several access points and parking areas. Start near Dan Daniel Memorial Park or the Science Center and look for herons along the water.
On September 27, 1903, the Southern Railway mail train known as Old 97 left the tracks on a curved trestle here and fell into the ravine, killing 11 people. The crash inspired one of America's best-known railroad ballads. A historical marker on Riverside Drive explains the event near the ravine.
The modest house on Broad Street where Nancy Langhorne was born in 1879. She later moved to England and became Lady Astor, the first woman to take her seat in the British House of Commons. The house holds exhibits on her life and family. Opening hours are limited, so check before you go.
A large city park beside the Dan River with ball fields, picnic shelters, a dog park and access to the Riverwalk Trail. American Legion Field, the city's baseball stadium, is inside the park. It is a pleasant base for a walk or bike ride along the river, especially on summer evenings when games are on.
The city's summer collegiate team plays in the Appalachian League at American Legion Field, a classic ballpark in Dan Daniel Memorial Park. Tickets are inexpensive, the atmosphere is relaxed, and theme nights and fireworks keep families entertained. Games run from June to early August, so check the schedule.
A large resort casino that opened in late 2024 on the site of the old Dan River Mills Schoolfield plant. It has a casino floor, hotel, spa, pool, restaurants and an events venue for concerts and shows. Guests must be 21 or older for the gaming floor; restaurants and shows are open to non-gamblers too.
A network of mountain biking and hiking trails in the woods along the Dan River, built and maintained with help from local volunteers. Loops range from beginner to challenging, with rolling singletrack and river views. Trailheads have parking and maps; trails close after heavy rain to protect the soil.
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