Each Christmas, Museum members and staff decorate the historic public rooms of the Sutherlin Mansion in holiday style reminiscent of the mid-to-late 19th century – a time when celebrating Yuletide with festive trappings echoed the exuberance of the Victorian Era itself.  This year's observance of a Victorian Christmas spans a full month, not only with the traditional seasonal greenery and tree with Victorian ornaments, but also complete with a gingerbread house replica of the house crafted by members of the Junior Wednesday Club . Whatever the season, for nearly 35 years the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History delivers on its promise to offer visitors rich experiences both in the period rooms of the historic house, as well as galleries devoted to art from all periods, plus special events, classes, and educational outreach.

Built in 1859 for William T. Sutherlin and his family, the original Italian Villa-style dwelling remains the architectural focal point for Danville's gracious Main Street, and set the tone for the city’s post Civil War residential development in the fashionable West End.  It reflects not only Sutherlin's achievement as a banker, tobacconist and entrepreneur, but reflects as well his importance during the War Between the States when he achieved the rank of Major as Danville's Quartermaster.  As the Executive Mansion for President Jefferson Davis during his final week as Commander in Chief of the Confederacy, April 3-10, 1865, the house secured Danville's rightful claim as the last Capital of the Confederacy.  As the focus of a fund raising campaign in 1912, when wives and daughters of Confederate veterans – and the veterans themselves – raised money to save this landmark from almost certain demolition, the mansion witnessed the birth of the historic preservation movement in Danville.  Thanks to their foresight, the mansion and Danville Museum's collections of history and art remain dynamic teaching tools and a tourist Mecca for thousands each year.