Danville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Danville Historic Mill District
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, October 12, 2024
1. Danville Historic Mill District Marker
Just east of this bridge stand mills that are part of the original complex of buildings of the textile giant known as Riverside Cotton Mills, now Dan River, Inc. The original mill, No. 1, stands just down river at the corner of Main Street Bridge at Bridge Street. It was built by T.B. Fitzgerald, a founder of the mill along with two other industrialists and the three Schoolfield brothers who, in the 1870s, conceived of the idea of exploiting cheap water power to produce textiles. Subsequent mills completed north of the river between Main and Union Street Bridges in the 1880s and 1890s, came to be known as the Long Mill (Nos. 2-5). No. 8, the White Mill, was the last completed in 1920. In 1903 the Riverside Division was joined by the Schoolfield Division. The name was then changed to the Riverside and Dan River Cotton Mills, now Dan River, Inc. This area, bounded by Main Street, Union Street Dam, Riverside Drive and Memorial Drive, is now known as the Danville Historic Mill District in recognition of its importance to the textile industry here in Danville. (Gary Grant, 1994)
Erected 1994 by City of Danville.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.
Location.
this page online
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: Roanoke Navigation System (within shouting distance of this marker); Union Street Dam (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Union Street Bridge (about 400 feet away); The Dan River (about 500 feet away); Union Street Dam & Bridge (about 600 feet away); Preservation Alliance of Virginia (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Union Street Bridge (about 700 feet away); The Wreck of the Old 97 (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danville.
More about this marker. This is one of eight historic markers installed along the Union Street Bridge in 1994.
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, December 7, 2024
2. Danville Historic Mill District Marker
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, October 20, 2024
3. Union Street Bridge and a former textile mill
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 5, 2024
4. The White Mill
A former textile mill in the Historic Mill District
Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2024, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 301 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on April 29, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 8, 2024, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
