The Davenport House Museum
Situated on Columbia Square at the corner of State and Habersham Streets in the Historic District of Savannah, Georgia. The house is one of the oldest brick structures in the city owning to the common use of wood construction during the town’s earliest history. Situated directly on the street, the two-and-a-half story urban dwelling contains a total of 6,800 square feet with a basement level (which originally housed the kitchen, storage, work space and possibly a sleeping area for the enslaved servants owned by Isaiah Davenport), the first floor containing the public areas, and the second and third floors which were bedrooms and storage space.
The Davenport home sits on Columbia Ward’s lot number 13, which originally measured (and continues to measure) 60 feet by 90 feet. The rear portion of the lot at one time held a carriage house, garden and privy. The site now contains a portion of lot number 14 which is the Museum’s courtyard garden. The garden was a Bicentennial project of Savannah’s Trustees Garden Club. It has since been redesigned under the guidance of renowned English landscape designer Penelope Hobhouse. While not a true restoration, the garden is maintained by volunteers “in the spirit of the original owners” and is planted with varieties of plants known to the Davenports and typical of coastal Georgia.
Our Mission:
The mission of the Davenport House Museum is to preserve and interpret the American Federal-style house, and the artifacts within, built by master builder Isaiah Davenport for his household with an emphasis on the years 1820-27, in order to educate, enrich and inspire our visitors and the community, as well as recognize the historical role of the house in the founding of Historic Savannah Foundation.
Our Goal:
The goal is to be a “first class museum” adhering to professional standards, shepherding quality interpretation and providing the highest degree of preservation and maintenance of the site.
Our Audience:
The Davenport House Museum sees approximately 35,000 visitors annually through its guided tours and education programs.
Open Daily:
Hours:
10 a.m. with the last tour beginning at 4 p.m. – Monday through Saturday
1 p.m. with the last tour beginning at 4 p.m. – Sunday
Daily experience
A guided tour taking approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
Visit the garden and museum shop on your own.
Dates the Davenport House closed at 1pm:
Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Dates the Davenport House is closed:
New Year’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
The Museum is also closed the second or third full week of January for annual cleaning. Consult “DH Calendar” for updates. Read more.
Museum contact information:
Davenport House Museum
324 E. State Street
Savannah, GA 31401
912/236-8097
912/233-7938 FAX
[email protected]
Museum Location:
The Museum is at the corner of East State and Habersham Streets in Savannah, GA. It is located on Columbia Square in Savannah’s Historic Landmark District.
Parking:
Parking is available at meters on the street at approximately $1.00 an hour. Parking in nearby garages is $1.00 per hour with a maximum daily rate of $10.
Length of Visit:
Plan on a 50 minute to 1 hour visit.
Museum Rules:
For the preservation of the house and collections, we ask that visitors:
- Refrain from touching museum objects or leaning on the wallpaper and woodwork.
- Refrain from eating and drinking in the exhibit area.
- Refrain from using a cell phone while on tour. Patrons are asked to turn their phones to vibrate or turn them off completely.
- Refrain from wandering away from your group. Everyone in the group must stay together.
- Service animals are the only pets allowed through the Museum.