Tobacco Heritage

Virginia tobacco is known as one of best sorts in preparing smoking products. For this high respectful heritage was opened a museum in Danville “The National Tobacco-Textile Museum”.

It is very sad that history that is an important part of state olden times was hid to its citizens. The National Tobacco-Textile Museum was closed in 1990 and this part of time was cached for almost two decades.

As the museum’s collection is a vital part of the city’s personal story, local historians have decided to revisit the collection through "Danville and the Culture of Tobacco," an exhibit at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. At this presentation was presented pieces that have not been seen since the tobacco museum closed its doors.

In deciding what namely to present at exhibition, Danville resident Gary Grant and several others spent months. In final, it was selected pieces of art and artifacts that would best tell the story.

Grant says: “it is “a real scope and sweep and interpretation” of the area’s tobacco history, from the commonwealth’s earliest day, when tobacco was considered equal to cash-as per a letter dated 1776, one of the exhibit’s most prized pieces--to more recent times, reflected in playful, kitschy items such as a 1970s-era purse made exclusively from empty packs of Camel cigarettes.”

"The idea is to enlighten or to reveal what are these symbols in the popular culture, the things people identified with," Grant said.

Achieving final results in selecting, Bjarnesen said:” is "a timeline story and a cultural story" about the wealthy days of Danville tobacco, starting with its agricultural roots as the epicenter of the Old Belt tobacco region, best known for growing high-grade bright leaf tobacco. This type of tobacco was an explosive part of the area’s agricultural community, especially after the Civil War.”

Entirely, the collection easily reminds memories from past days of Danville “as a cornerstone in the state’s tobacco industry.”

“It permeated every person in the area, every part of society," Bjarnesen said. "It was a way of life for all social classes.”

“It is part of our heritage and the heritage of this area and it cannot be forgotten,” Grant said.