Juliette Gordon Low Historic District facts for kids
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Juliette Gordon Low District
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Wayne-Gordon House in 2011
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 10 Oglethorpe Ave., E., 330 Drayton St., 329 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia |
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| Built | 1818 |
| Architect | John S. Norris |
| Architectural style | Early Republic, Italianate |
| Part of | Savannah Historic District (Savannah, Georgia) (ID66000277) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000276 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | June 23, 1965 |
The Juliette Gordon Low Historic District is a special place in Savannah, Georgia. It includes three important buildings linked to Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts of the USA. These buildings are the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace (also called the Wayne-Gordon House), the First Girl Scout Headquarters, and the Andrew Low House.
The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace is at 10 Oglethorpe Avenue, East. The First Girl Scout Headquarters is at 330 Drayton Street. This building used to be a carriage house for the Andrew Low House. The Andrew Low House is located at 329 Abercorn Street.
In 1965, the Birthplace was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical site in the United States. The First Girl Scout Headquarters was also part of this first recognition. Later, the Andrew Low House was added, making it the full Juliette Gordon Low Landmark District we know today.
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace: A Special Home
The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace is also known as the Wayne-Gordon House. It is owned by the Girl Scouts of the USA. This house is a popular museum and a national center for Girl Scouts. Many people call it "The Birthplace."
The house was built between 1818 and 1821 for James Moore Wayne. He was the mayor of Savannah at that time. Later, he became a judge on the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1831, Mr. Wayne sold the house to his niece, Sarah Stites Gordon. Sarah and her husband, William Washington Gordon I, were Juliette Gordon Low's grandparents. Four generations of the Gordon family lived in this house.
Juliette Low's parents, William Washington Gordon II and Eleanor Kinzie Gordon, made big changes to the house in 1886. They added a fourth floor and a side porch. Juliette Gordon Low got married in 1886. She spent much of her life living in England. However, she visited her family and friends in New York, New Jersey, and Savannah every year.
In 1911, Juliette Gordon Low met Robert Baden Powell. He was the founder of the Boy Scouts. He encouraged her to get involved with the Girl Guides in England. In 1912, she came back home to Savannah. She wanted to start a similar movement for girls in the United States.
While staying at her parents' home, Juliette called her cousin, Nina Anderson Pape. She famously said, "Come right over! I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight." Juliette Low found girls all over town. She recruited them from churches, a synagogue, her cousin Nina's students, and daughters of friends. She even held fancy tea parties in her mother's living room to get more girls to join the Girl Scouts.
The Girl Scouts of the USA bought the home in 1953. They have worked to restore the house to how it looked in Juliette's time. It helps people learn about the Girl Scout Movement. In 1954, a landscape architect named Clermont Huger Lee designed a new garden for the house. The home opened as a historic house museum in 1956. It has many original furnishings from the Gordon family. You can even see art created by Juliette Gordon Low herself. The Birthplace was named Savannah's first National Historic Landmark in 1965. It was also one of the first places listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Birthplace is open for tours from Monday to Saturday, from 12:15 PM to 4:15 PM. The gift store is open from Monday to Saturday, from 10 AM to 5 PM. The site is closed on Sundays and major holidays.
Images for kids
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Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum, 2019
