Isaiah Davenport House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Isaiah Davenport House
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| Location | 324 East State Street, Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Built | 1820 |
| Architect | Isaiah Davenport |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Savannah Historic District (ID66000277) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000374 |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 1972 |
The Isaiah Davenport House is a historic home in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It was built way back in 1820. Today, it is a historic house museum run by the Historic Savannah Foundation. This foundation has taken care of the house since 1963.
You can find the house at 324 East State Street. It sits on the northwest corner of Columbia Square.
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What is the Federal Style?
The Davenport House was built in a style called Federal. This style was popular in the United States from about 1780 to 1830. It often features simple, balanced designs. The house was mostly finished in 1820. It first appeared on tax records in 1821.
Who Built the Davenport House?
A skilled builder named Isaiah Davenport designed and built this home. He was from New England. He built it for his family, which was growing. He also wanted to show off his amazing building skills.
History of the Davenport House
Isaiah Davenport and his team built this Federal-style house in 1820. It was for his family, which included his wife, Sarah, and their seven children. Nine enslaved people also lived and worked there. These individuals were forced to work without pay.
From Family Home to Boarding House
The house was Isaiah Davenport's family home until he passed away in 1827. After his death, his wife, Sarah Clark Davenport, changed it into a boarding house. A boarding house is a place where people can rent rooms to live. Sarah lived in the house until 1840. She then sold it to the Baynard family from South Carolina. The Baynard family owned the house for the next 109 years.
Saving a Historic Treasure
Over many years, the once grand home became quite run down. It was used as a rooming house and was not well-kept. Even in this condition, experts noticed how special its architecture was. In the 1930s, government surveyors studied and measured it.
In 1955, the house was in danger of being torn down. But a group of people in the community decided to save it. They bought the Davenport House together. This was the very first action of the Historic Savannah Foundation. This foundation has since saved hundreds of historic buildings in Savannah.
The House Becomes a Museum
In 1955, the Davenport House became an office for the Historic Savannah Foundation. It also housed a family services agency. In 1957, a landscape architect named Clermont Huger Lee designed a garden for the house.
People soon realized the house could be a great historic site. So, the first floor was restored. It opened to the public as a museum on March 9, 1963. Later, the second and third floors were also opened. The Historic Savannah Foundation moved its offices to another building.
In the mid-1980s, museum leaders worked to meet professional museum standards. In the mid-1990s, the museum began another restoration project. This effort was led by Cornelia Groves and Clare Ellis. They made the museum even more authentic for visitors. They added period wallpaper and furniture. These items matched what was in the house when Isaiah Davenport passed away in 1827. Cornelia Groves also started the "Friends of Davenport House" group in 2003.
Visiting the Museum
The Davenport House first opened as a museum in 1963. It helps people learn about life in Savannah in the 1800s. In 2005, the Davenport House received the Preserve America Presidential Award. This award recognizes great efforts in historic preservation. In 2010, it received the Georgia Governor's Award in the Humanities. This award celebrates achievements in history and culture.
