Exploring the Historical Towns of Yates Tavern, Shwood Plantation, and Danville in Virginia

🏰Yates Tavern, built by Revolutionary War veteran Steven Yates, served as a bed and breakfast on a major transportation route.

🌳Shwood Plantation, built in the late 1700s, features Carpenter Gothic architecture and was a tobacco plantation operated by enslaved individuals.

👪Frederick Miller, an African-American Air Force veteran, purchased Shwood Plantation and discovered his great-great-grandparents, Violet and David Miller, were enslaved there.

🏛️Danville, once the third capital of the Confederacy, played a significant role in the Civil War and was a strategic location for the Confederacy.

🎨Downtown Danville showcases beautiful murals and historic buildings, reflecting the town's rich history and its role as a top tobacco producer.

What is the significance of Yates Tavern?

—Yates Tavern, built by Revolutionary War veteran Steven Yates, served as a bed and breakfast on a major transportation route from the East Coast to places like Boston and Philadelphia.

What architectural style is Shwood Plantation?

—Shwood Plantation features Carpenter Gothic architecture, which combines elements of Gothic style with wooden construction.

Who is Frederick Miller?

—Frederick Miller is an African-American Air Force veteran who purchased Shwood Plantation and discovered that his great-great-grandparents, Violet and David Miller, were enslaved there.

What role did Danville play in the Civil War?

—Danville was the third capital of the Confederacy and served as a strategic location, with its rail lines and proximity to the South, as a major supply and organizational hub for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

What is the historical significance of downtown Danville?

—Downtown Danville showcases beautiful murals and historic buildings that reflect the town's rich history as a top tobacco producer and its role in the Civil War.

00:00Introducing Yates Tavern, a bed and breakfast built by Revolutionary War veteran Steven Yates on a major transportation route.

04:06Exploring Shwood Plantation, a tobacco plantation featuring Carpenter Gothic architecture and a surprising connection to Frederick Miller's enslaved great-great-grandparents.

07:36Discovering the historical significance of Danville, the third capital of the Confederacy, and its role as a major supply point during the Civil War.

12:50Marveling at the beautiful murals and historic buildings in downtown Danville, which reflect the town's rich history as a tobacco producer.