Danville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Worsham Street Bridge

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, March 21, 2025

1. The Worsham Street Bridge Marker

Inscription. The Worsham Street Bridge was built in 1928 by the Atlantic Bridge Company of Greensboro, North Carolina. Replacing a smaller iron-and-wood bridge from the early 1900s, it was an open-spandrel reinforced concrete arch bridge and one of the longest and tallest of this type designed by noted engineer Daniel B. Luten. The bridge helped relieve traffic congestion on the nearby Main Street Bridge and facilitated farmers getting their tobacco crops to the warehouses and processing facilities on the south side of the river. The bridge (and street) were named for William W. Worsham, whose grandfather Thomas Worsham was one of the founding fathers of Danville.

The bridge was the highest point above the Dan River and a familiar local landmark. It was significant in American engineering as an example of the large scale, multiple-span, open-spandrel reinforced concrete arch bridge construction that flourished between ca. 1910 and 1930. Following decades of deterioration and a series of weight load reductions, the iconic Worsham Street Bridge was closed to traffic in 2004 and demolished in 2009.

Daniel B. Luten (1869-1945) was

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based in Indianapolis, Indiana and was the most prolific designer and builder of concrete arch bridges in America during the first three decades of the 20th century. He was involved in the design of approximately 15,000 bridges throughout the United States. By the time of the publication of the 1937 “Who’s Who In Engineering” Luten was the author of 100 technical articles and the holder of 52 patents in concrete bridge design, including several related to concrete arch construction.

Danville ‘s Tobacco Warehouse District developed south of the Dan River as a hub for tobacco manufacturing and distribution beginning in the late 18th century. Visible from this point at what was once the south end of the bridge are the late-19th century R.J. Reynolds tobacco warehouse (which featured a landing and entrance directly off the bridge) to the immediate east and the 1912 Municipal Power Station to the west. The district contains approximately 585 buildings related to the development of Danville’s tobacco enterprise. Officially called the Danville Tobacco Warehouse and Residential Historic District, it was listed in the National Register of

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2013

2. The Worsham Street Bridge Marker

This is a previous iteration of the marker. Note that there were different photos, although the inscription of the main text is identical.

Historic Places in 1982.

Worsham Street Bridge Facts
>> Named after William W. Worsham
>> Type: Open-spandrel concrete arch bridge
>> Spanned: Dan River, U.S. Route 58
>> Designer: Daniel B. Luten, Engineer
>> Builder: Atlantic Bridge Company
>> Completed: October 1928
>> Number of spans: 10
>> Length: 1,151 ft
>> Longest span: 136 feet
>> Shortest span: 59 ft
>> Width: 36 ft Height: 49 ft
>> Demolished: 2009

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 36° 35.253′ N, 79° 23.271′ W. Marker is in Danville, Virginia. It is at the intersection of Bridge Street and Wilson Street, on the left when traveling east on Bridge Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Danville VA 24541, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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 North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically,

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, March 21, 2025

3. The Worsham Street Bridge Marker

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 Tobacco Warehouse and Residential District (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Tobacco Heritage Mural (about 500 feet away); Dan River Inc. Mills (about 600 feet away); Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (about 600 feet away); Wynne's Falls (about 600 feet away); The Dan River (about 600 feet away); The Garden Club of Danville's Centennial (about 600 feet away); Early Settlement of Danville (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danville.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2013

4. The Worsham Street Bridge Marker

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, October 31, 2024

5. The Worsham Street Bridge Marker

Facing Craghead Street

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, December 9, 2024

6. Removal

Due to deterioration, the Marker face was removed in 2024.

Worsham Street Bridge Arch image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, October 31, 2024

7. Worsham Street Bridge Arch

This arched entryway to the former Worsham Street Bridge has been retained and incorporated into the streetscape.

Worsham Street Bridge Dedication Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, October 31, 2024

8. Worsham Street Bridge Dedication Plaque

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, December 9, 2024

9. Worsham Street Bridge Dedication Plaque

The original dedication plaque for the Worsham Street Bridge has been incorporated into the streetscape near the Marker.

The Worsham Street Bridge Design Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 3, 2025

10. The Worsham Street Bridge Design Plaque

Adjacent to the Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,357 times since then and 136 times this year. Last updated on September 3, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on September 3, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 2. submitted on June 16, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on September 3, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 4. submitted on June 16, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on September 3, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 6. submitted on December 14, 2024, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 7, 8, 9. submitted on January 22, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 10. submitted on April 29, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia.