The Legendary Dan Rowe
The treasured tradition of Legendary Santa began in 1936 at the Miller & Rhoads department store in downtown Richmond. After the closing of Miller & Rhoads in 1990, and following several short moves, Legendary Santa came to his new, permanent seasonal home at the Children’s Museum of Richmond in 2005. It is with great honor…
Published on December 16, 2020
The treasured tradition of Legendary Santa began in 1936 at the Miller & Rhoads department store in downtown Richmond. After the closing of Miller & Rhoads in 1990, and following several short moves, Legendary Santa came to his new, permanent seasonal home at the Children’s Museum of Richmond in 2005. It is with great honor and gratitude that the Children’s Museum continues this magical holiday tradition enjoyed by generations.
The Children’s Museum is deeply saddened by the passing of the beloved Legendary Santa, Dan Rowe, who greeted families from 1966 to 2016. We thank him for the genuine love and joy he shared with so many, for so long. Below, we’ve shared some tributes and articles about Dan, which we will continue to update. Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out with a story or memory so far.
From Visitors Near and Far
“He was the best! The last time I sat on his lap I was 13. Then for my 21st birthday I went to see him. I only stood in the back of the room and watched while remembering. But that wonderful man, looked up smiled, waved at me and said, ‘Merry Christmas Linda!’ I was beyond shocked but thrilled at the same time. Thank you Santa.”
Linda motley
From a Fellow Santa Land Team Member
Dan Rowe WAS Legendary Santa! He was Santa from 1966-2016 and in the years that Legendary Santa traveled from Miller and Rhoads to Thalhimers, to the Richmond Convention Center to the Richmond Children’s Museum, he was the one that kept the tradition going.
Dan was my mentor and my friend. He taught me the ropes as how to be Legendary and his insistence on excellence resulted in the Legendary Santa program being the best. Dan had a great laugh and loved to see returning families who LOVED to see him as Santa. During the time he was Legendary Santa, Dan saw over 600,000 children and families and the traditional pictures with him as Santa are on walls all over the world.
Dan was an avid church goer and loved being with his own family. Here is Dan with Lou and Jeff and Dan’s daughter and her husband at his retirement luncheon.
It was a privilege to know and work with Dan and he will be greatly missed.
-Jeff Beatman
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch
Please click the Richmond Times-Dispatch article below to read more about Santa Dan’s story and legacy, written by his friend, Bill Lohmann.
