It’s called “the house that tobacco built”. Located at 862 Main Street, the Penn-Wyatt House is connected to more than 130 years of Danville’s history.
The original owner, James Penn, came from a tobacco family in Patrick County. He arrived in the River City after serving in the Civil War, building the Main Street property in 1876. Later on, he built one of the area’s first international tobacco dealerships, Pemberton & Penn. His home featured everything from hand-painted mirrors to stained glass pocket doors, elegant mantels and formal parlors. Stepping inside is like taking a trip through time. And soon you’ll be able to do just that.
A Trip Through Time
Now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, the Danville Historical Society will be restarting our guided walking tours over the next three months.
There will be three available as of May 1.
First up is The Secrets Inside. It’s a tour of Danville’s magnificent Millionaires’ Row, a part of the Old West End Historic District. As Danville grew thanks to the tobacco and textile industries, the wealthy elite started building houses in the Old West End. Most of these homes were built in the late 19th and early 20th century, each offering its own unique style.
Some of these are massive structures, with an average size of more than 6,000 square feet. This 90-minute tour gives people a look at what life was like for the city’s wealthiest residents around the turn of the century.
Second, you can learn why There’s a Story Here. This is a tour of the Holbrook-Ross District, the city’s first neighborhood for African American professionals that was created shortly after the Civil War.
This easy 60-minute walk leads to the site of the first local public school for African Americans in the 1870s, a home where the Civil Rights movement was nurtured and others throughout the area.
Third, you can hear Tales of Tobacco, Textiles and Trains. This is a tour of the Tobacco Warehouse District. The district, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, includes 532 contributing buildings.
Danville is known as the birthplace of innovative sales practices such as the “Danville System” of tobacco auctions and the “Danville Plan” of allotting sales time on a poundage basis rather than by sales days to individual markets.
On this tour, you’ll see the best of industrial architecture constructed in Danville during that period. You’ll also learn a little about the history of the buildings and the current or future use of them.
Things to Know About The Tours
Now that you know what the tours are, let’s talk about how to sign up. Reservations are required for the guided tours. That means an $8 fee for adults. All kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult.
Tours are offered daily, with times shifting due to weather. To check for available times or to sign up, just call the Society at 434–770–1386. When you call, please give your name, the number of people in your party and phone number so we can call you back. If you’d prefer emailing us, that’s available too. Just send an email to danvillehistorical@gmail.com.
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