HSF to Host Lecture by Danielle Hodes About Expanding the Narrative at the Davenport House Museum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAVANNAH, Ga. (July 21, 2025) – Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) will feature Davenport House Museum Executive Director Danielle Hodes as a guest speaker on Thurs., Aug. 21 at the HSF headquarters, located at 321 E. York St. Hodes will discuss “A Home for Savannah: Expanding the Narrative of the Davenport House Museum” as part of the 2025 Historic Savannah Foundation Lecture Series, “The People, Places and Stories That Define Savannah.” Attendees are invited to attend a wine reception at 5:30 p.m. The lecture will start at 6 p.m.

In her lecture, Hodes will address why expanding the narrative at the Davenport House Museum, which is owned and operated by HSF, is vital to creating a more inclusive experience and building deeper connections with Savannah residents and visitors. She will highlight the ways in which the Davenport House has revealed new layers of history through innovative exhibitions, expanded research and community-centered programming, including the popular Artisan Spotlight Series.

As stewards of one of Savannah’s most iconic historic sites, Hodes and the Davenport House Museum staff are undertaking a critical shift, expanding beyond the narrowly defined interpretative period from 1820 to 1827. The Preserve America Presidential Award-winning museum is embracing a more complete history of the home, telling the stories of all who lived and labored there.

The Davenport House was designed by master carpenter Isaiah Davenport in 1820 and officially launched Savannah’s historic preservation movement in 1955, when a group of seven local women joined forces to purchase the historic home, which was slated for demolition. The Davenport House officially opened as a house museum in 1963 and is currently undergoing its first major exterior restoration in 32 years.

“Danielle is actively rediscovering new connections to the history that defines the Davenport House,” said Historic Savannah Foundation Education and Research Associate Kendall Graham. “She has thoughtfully researched and revealed this iconic structure’s connection to slavery in the 19th century as well as its status as a tenement in the early 20th century.”

The Davenport House Museum has been honored by the Georgia Association of Museums for its immersive, educational Urban Enslaved Exhibit, which provides visitors with a more complete understanding of what life was like at the Davenport House during the era of slavery.

In addition to her groundbreaking work at the Davenport House Museum, Hodes serves as a consultant with the Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz, where she focuses on identifying the training and support needs of museums and cultural institutions engaging with traumatic content in service to their communities. Prior to joining HSF, she served as the Senior Program Manager of Public Programs and Interpretation at the Edith Farnsworth House, a National Trust for Historic Preservation Historic Site in Plano, Ill.

Throughout her career as a museum professional, Hodes has also served in leadership roles at acclaimed institutions across the country, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.; the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York; and the Morris-Jumel Mansion in Upper Manhattan, N.Y.

Originally from Indianapolis, Ind., Hodes earned a master’s degree in Museum Studies from New York University and bachelor’s degrees in Experimental Psychology and Art History from the University of South Carolina at Columbia.

The next speaker in Historic Savannah Foundation’s 2025 Lecture Series will be Laura Seifert, the founder of Savannah Archaeological Alliance, who will deliver an informative lecture entitled, “Faith in Education: 19th Century African American Education in Savannah” on September 18. For more information about the HSF Lecture Series, please click here.

Historic Savannah Foundation’s Lecture Series is open to the public. Reservations are recommended, as space is limited. Attendance is free for Historic Savannah Foundation members and $15 for non-members. Members may RSVP by emailing Kendall Graham at [email protected] or calling 912-233-7787, ext. 109. Non-members can purchase tickets by clicking here.