Danville Public Library
Also known as: Sutherlin House
Why it's listed
Built in 1857-58 for Major William T. Sutherlin on Danville's Main Street, this two-story stuccoed house is an Italianate villa. Three of its five bays project from the facade, and a one-story wooden porch fronts the recessed portion. A heavy bracketed cornice, a shallow hipped roof and a square cupola with pilasters complete the design. Two one-story wings were added at the rear for library use, carrying through the original style, though the interior was considerably altered, with the first-floor hall walls removed and the staircase relocated. The house is significant for its role in April 1865, when the Confederate government left Richmond and set up a temporary capital in Danville. President Jefferson Davis was Sutherlin's guest and signed his last official proclamation as Confederate President here on April 4. He is believed to have received word of Lee's surrender at dinner in the house. It is also noted as an outstanding Virginia example of Italianate villa architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the final days of the Confederate government. President Jefferson Davis stayed there in April 1865 and signed his last official proclamation as Confederate President there. It is also described as one of Virginia's outstanding examples of the Italianate villa style.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 69000338, listed November 12, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 975 Main St., Danville (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Danville |
| Listed | November 12, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000338 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Italianate villa |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a public library; condition listed as fair, with the interior considerably altered and rear library wings added. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Within district | Danville Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 36.58094, -79.40006 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 69000338.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15212777
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.