The arts scene in Danville and Pittsylvania County showcases the area's dedication to preserving history, from a renovated vintage theater to the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, to walking tours of some of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in Virginia.

Gretna Theatre
The Gretna Theatre 30 miles to the north of Danville has been restored to imbue a sense of nostalgia as it serves new generations of audience members. Gretna Theatre is open mostly on Friday‚ Saturday and Sunday nights and offers entertainment geared toward the whole family. In addition to presenting current box office hits‚ the theater has hosted performances by musical groups. The building is also leased for special events and meetings, and nearby, two buildings house a restaurant as well as an art gallery and accommodations for visiting performers.

Danville Science Center
The Danville Science Center welcomes more than 25,000 visitors each year. Many of the exhibits are hands-on, engaging kids of all ages in learning. The facility opened in December 1995 with the center’s first permanent exhibition, which was titled “Fundamentals of Science.” Today, more than 25 displays are rotated throughout each year to keep the center fresh. One of the most popular permanent exhibits is the “It’s Butterflies Galore” showcase. The display is a major draw each April when the butterflies break out of their cocoons and flitter about a large area within the center.

Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History
Art and history come together most evidently at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. The museum is located in the Sutherlin Mansion on Main Street in an area known as Millionaires Row for its large homes originally built primarily by successful tobacco and textile industry leaders. This Italianate Villa style structure – once a residence and then a library – continues to greet generations of curious guests. The museum is a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond and houses permanent exhibits that include “Between the Lines: Danville 1861-1865." Visitors can find an eclectic mix of traveling exhibits featuring local, regional and national artists, or take advantage of numerous tours, art classes, and educational programs.

Tobacco Warehouse District
The Tobacco Warehouse District is an example of how Danville has taken historically significant structures and repurposed them for modern economic prosperity. In this district where the city's tobacco industry once thrived, approximately 160 new housing units are bolstering downtown’s residential component and supporting its mix of about 140 specialty retailers‚ service businesses‚ professional offices and eateries.

Veterans Artfully Honored
A relatively new, aesthetically pleasing addition to the area is the Danville-Pittsylvania County Veterans Memorial at Dan Daniel Memorial Park. The monument salutes all local veterans from the Revolutionary War to the present. The center of the memorial reads in large letters, “Freedom Is Not Free,” and a seven-foot-high by 156-foot-long black granite wall bears the names of more than 1,000 war casualties from this area. The memorial also includes three flags – the U.S. flag, the Commonwealth of Virginia flag and the POW/MIA flag. A 10-foot-wide circular brick walkway consists of engraved memorial bricks.

BOX: Dreams Made Real Adventures