PHOTO: Historic Savannah Foundation recently announced that the Davenport House Museum, an 1820 architectural treasure overlooking Columbia Square in Savannah, Ga., will undergo the first major exterior restoration since 1993.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAVANNAH, Ga. (May 27, 2025) – The Davenport House – an iconic c. 1820 property owned and operated by Historic Savannah Foundation in Savannah, Ga. – is set to undergo its first major exterior restoration since 1993. Work at the Davenport House Museum, located at 324 E. State St. on Columbia Square, is expected to start in early June and to be complete in December 2025.
Exterior restoration work on this historic Federal-style building will include cleaning, repair and repointing of masonry; reconstructing the rear porch and stairs; and repairing and repainting windows, doors, shutters, iron grills and railings. The restoration work was previously approved by the Historic District Board of Review.
“This will be the largest exterior restoration of the Davenport House in more than three decades, which is extremely exciting,” said Sue Adler, CEO and President of Historic Savannah Foundation. “It’s vital to maintain this architectural jewel, which kick-started the preservation movement in Savannah in 1955 and currently hosts more than 40,000 visitors each year from across the country and around the world.”
Over the last several months, Historic Savannah Foundation staff and leadership determined that the entire exterior of the Davenport House was in need of a comprehensive restoration. Ellie Isaacs, Historic Savannah Foundation’s Director of Preservation and Historic Properties, drafted the Exterior Conditions Assessment document that informed the work needed to restore the exterior of this iconic structure.
Historic Savannah Foundation representatives met with the Preservation Department of the Metropolitan Planning Commission and collaborated with architect Brian Felder of Felder and Associates, a past Historic Savannah Foundation board chair who oversaw the construction of Historic Savannah Foundation’s Preservation Center, to handle the bid process. Garbutt Construction, which is based in Pooler, Ga., was selected as the contractor to complete the exterior restoration project. Brian Felder with Felder and Associates will oversee the work.
Historic Savannah Foundation staff members also appeared before the Historic District Board of Review and were granted approval “with conditions” to provide additional information to the preservation department staff at the Metropolitan Planning Commission throughout the project.
The Davenport House Museum won a Preserve America Presidential Award, which is the highest national award honoring historic preservation achievement, and received awards from the Georgia Association of Museums in 2023 and 2025.
Built in 1820, the Davenport House was designed by carpenter Isaiah Davenport and officially launched Savannah’s historic preservation movement when a group of seven local women joined forces to purchase the historic home, which was slated for demolition, in 1955. The Davenport House officially opened as a house museum in 1963 and has been open to the public ever since.
ABOUT HISTORIC SAVANNAH FOUNDATION
Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF), a leading nonprofit cultural institution, saves the buildings, places and stories that define Savannah’s past, present and future. Founded in 1955 when seven brave women banded together to save the Isaiah Davenport House, Historic Savannah Foundation spearheaded the preservation movement in Savannah. The organization continues to preserve and operate The Davenport House Museum, sharing its important story with the community, and operates a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling over 420 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF continues to lead preservation efforts throughout the Savannah community. More info: myhsf.org.
ABOUT DAVENPORT HOUSE MUSEUM
The Davenport House Museum is the historic 1820 Federal-style home and iconic Historic Savannah Foundation property that began the modern-day preservation movement in Savannah, Ga. In 1955, seven local women joined forces to save the Davenport House from demolition. Today, this award-winning house museum is dedicated to sharing the stories of master carpenter Isaiah Davenport, his family and the enslaved residents who lived in this home overlooking Columbia Square, showcasing period artifacts of life in Savannah from 1820 to 1827. Highlights include the award-winning Urban Enslaved Exhibit, which opened to the public in November 2023. Owned and operated by Historic Savannah Foundation, the Davenport House is the winner of the Preserve America Presidential Award — the highest national award honoring historic preservation achievement — and welcomes more than 40,000 visitors annually. More info: davenporthousemuseum.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Allison Hersh
Capricorn Communications
912.441.1285 | [email protected]
