Danville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Wreck of Old 97
This mural, the work of Alabamian Wes Hardin, depicts the express mail train Number 97, pulled by Engine 1102, crossing the trestle above Stillhouse Branch in North Danville. On September 27, 1903, leaving Washington one hour late, bound for Atlanta, "the fastest train on the Southern Railroad," plunged 45 feet from that trestle killing eleven of its crew and injuring six; only one individual aboard escaped injury. Five men of the crew are seen in the inset. Depicted, too, are some of the hundreds of canaries that escaped their cages in the baggage car.
The song, "The Wreck of Old 97," sold more than six million records and made the wreck famous.
Erected by Historic Murals of Danville.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Arts, Letters, Music • Disasters • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is September 27, 1903.
Location. 36° 35.301′ N, 79° 23.451′ W. Marker is in Danville, Virginia. It is at the intersection of Main Street (Virginia Route 293) and Memorial Drive ( Route 413), on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Touch for map.
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Regionally, this marker is in Southside Virginia and specifically in Central Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Danville's Textile Industry (within shouting distance of this marker); Danville Riot/Danville Massacre, 1883 (within shouting distance of this marker); The World's Best Tobacco Market (within shouting distance of this marker); Japan Tobacco International (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Settlement of Danville (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Dan River (about 300 feet away); Wynne's Falls (about 400 feet
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 5, 2024
3. The Wreck of Old 97 Mural
Credits. This page was last revised on December 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,913 times since then and 98 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 25, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on December 5, 2024, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia.
