Historic Savannah Foundation

Please join HSF for our special Preservation Month lecture next Thursday at 5:00 PM! We are delighted to welcome Kim Trent, the CEO for National Preservation Partners Network for her lecture, "Saving the Past, Building the Future: Nonprofit-Led Historic Property Redevelopment." This presentation will explore how nonprofit historic preservation organizations are transforming neglected and deteriorating historic properties into vibrant community assets. From adaptive reuse of industrial landmarks to the rehabilitation of historic main street storefronts and affordable housing in century-old buildings, these programs balance the imperatives of cultural stewardship with practical community development. Drawing on case studies from across the country, Kim Trent will examine the financing tools, public-private partnerships, and community engagement strategies that make these projects succeed — and the lasting economic, social, and architectural benefits they deliver to the communities they serve. This lecture will take place on Thursday, May 21st at the Murray C. Perlman and Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center located at 323 E. Broughton Street. Doors open at 5:00 PM and the lecture will begin at 5:30 PM. Admission is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members. Space is limited; both members and non-members may reserve their spot by visiting /embeds/book/davenporthousemuseum/items/713649/calendar/2026/05/?flow=1241541&full-items=yes

We are thrilled to recognize the Espy-Egan Cottage as a recipient of our Excellence in Preservation Award! The Espy-Egan Cottage, located at 5 7th on Tybee Island was constructed c1934 during the coastal resort and tourism boom on the island. It was built for a prominent Savannahian, Carl Espy Sr., and his family. It survives as an intact example of a Raised Tybee Cottage, a unique and characteristic building type along coastal Georgia that reflected the local environment and available materials. This cottage’s historic integrity is well preserved, having undergone very few alterations since its construction. It is noteworthy to point out the excellent stewardship of the building over its life as this building is not within a locally designated historic district. In other words, there are no restrictions for demolition or historically incompatible alterations for this property. The building, suffering from water damage due to its proximity to the coast and low elevation, was relocated to a higher part of the lot. A new foundation was poured at a higher level to further protect the building, while maintaining a historically compatible height. These interventions reflect how historic preservation can respond to climate change and create resiliency for the future. In addition, the iconic wrap-around porch was restored, and original materials were preserved such as the wood walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows. They also removed non-historic alterations like the entrance along 7th street, the porch infill, and jalousie windows. This rehabilitation was so successful that it was recognized by the National Park Service and will serve as an example of coastal resilience and flood adaptation for rehabilitating historic buildings in their publications and presentations. All in all, this building represents an excellent example of historic preservation while maintaining resiliency and preparedness for the future. Congratulations to the Watts Family, Ward Architecture + Preservation, Neal Contracting Company, and Waters Construction and Concrete. #climateresiliency #coastalliving #historicpreservation #HSFAwards #TybeeIsland #NPS #historicrestoration

Tomorrow evening, we celebrate the spirit of stewardship. 🕯️ As we prepare for the opening of The Seven Ladies, we’re reflecting on the individual lived experiences that brought these women together. From their varied social networks to their long records of community service, each woman brought a unique perspective that positioned them—collectively—at the right place and the right time. Through photographs and archival materials, this exhibition explores not just what they saved, but who they were. Please join us for an evening of storytelling, heritage, and community as we honor the women who founded HSF and protected the Savannah we love today. The Details: 🗓️ TOMORROW! Thursday, May 14th ⏰ 5:30-7:30 PM 📍 323 E Broughton Street ✨ Free and open to all. We can’t wait to share these incredible histories with you. Swipe through to meet the women whose stewardship continues to guide our city today. ➡️ Which of these stories are you most excited to learn about? Tell us in the comments! The Seven Ladies (in order): Anna Colquitt Hunter, Dorothy "Dickie" Ripley Roebling (Image courtesy of the University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography), Elinor Adler Dillard, Katharine "Kass" Judkins Clark, Lucy Barrow McIntire, Nola McEvoy Roos, Jane Adair Wright #TheSevenLadies #ExhibitionOpening #DavenportHouseMuseum #HistoricSavannahFoundation #WomenInHistory

We are honored to celebrate the Lucas Theatre for the Arts, located at 32 Abercorn Street, as a recipient of our Excellence in Preservation Award this year! The Lucas is located in Savannah's Historic Landmark District and was designed by architect, Claude K. Howell in the 1920s. It was officially opened on December 26, 1921 and was described as the "Jewel of Savannah." The Lucas remained open for 55 years until closing its doors in 1976. In 1987, the theatre was slated for demolition to make way for a parking garage. The theatre was luckily saved from demolition by preservation advocates and reopened in 2000. In 2002 the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) purchased the building and remains the current steward of the Lucas. Recent restoration efforts by Landmark Preservation included the restoration and refinishing of plaster, paint, and gilding throughout the theater's auditorium, balcony and lobby. Artisans spent hours gently hand scraping layers of inappropriate paint throughout the theatre, and recast plaster elements using traditional methods, which made their tight timeline for the restoration even more impressive- they brought the theatre back to life in under three months! Today, thanks to the restoration efforts of Landmark Preservation, the Lucas remains an anchor for the community, an icon within Savannah's art and entertainment culture, and a model for excellence in preservation. Congratulations! #HSFAwards #HistoricPreservation #LucasTheatre #SavannahGA #PreservationMatters #PreservationMonth

Preservation Month is in full swing! We spent Saturday morning with Austin Historical (@austinhistorical ) learning the ins and outs of window Restoration in their hands-on workshop. 🪟 This was such a great opportunity to learn about the trade from the same crew that did amazing work restoring the windows of the Davenport House last year. Participants learned essential techniques and tips to bring their own windows back to life! ✨ Huge thank you to Austin Historical for sponsoring all of our Preservation Month events and to their Savannah crew for sharing their time and expertise with our guests this past weekend. For more hands-on workshops led by other local artisans, check out our other upcoming Artisan Spotlight events on our website! #DavenportHouseMuseum #HistoricSavannahFoundation #AustinHistorical #WindowRestorationWorkshop #PreservationMonth

After months of research and preparation, it's finally time! 🎉 We're so excited to unveil our newest special exhibition featuring the Seven Ladies of Savannah. We're honored to share their legacy of resilience and continue their legacy of historic preservation in our city. We would not be where we are today without their vision and dedication to protecting the history and character of Savannah. Through photographs, archival materials, and interpretive storytelling, The Seven Ladies highlights not only what they preserved, but the enduring spirit of stewardship that guided their efforts. Join us on Thursday, May 14th at 5:30 PM for our public opening of "The Seven Ladies" The opening event is free and open to the public. Join us to celebrate their legacy and the lasting power of civic service. 📍 324 E Broughton St. 🎟️ RSVP on our website #TheSevenLadies #DavenportHouseMuseum #HistoricSavannahFoundation #ExhibitionOpening #SneakPeek

We are honored to celebrate 7 West Bay Street, home of Savannah Culinary Institute, as a recipient of our Excellence in Preservation Award this year! 7 West Bay Street is located in Savannah’s Historic Landmark District and was constructed in 1856 out of brick and timber framing. Fun fact, it once housed the Savannah Republican newspaper! The building is typical of Savannah’s historic commercial buildings that front Bay Street. In the Late 20th century, the building was used as several nightlife entertainment venues. The property was purchased in 2018 by the Savannah Technical College Foundation for the college’s Culinary Arts Program. Through careful masonry repair, structural stabilization, storefront and window restoration, and removal of historically inappropriate materials, this building has been thoughtfully restored and transformed into a vibrant working culinary institute that serves as a hands-on learning environment, equipped with teaching kitchens, classrooms, faculty offices, a café, a bar, a full service restaurant, and a demonstration kitchen. This project shows that historic buildings can be equipped for modern uses that suit the needs of our community today. Congratulations to the dedicated teams, Hansen Architects, The Pinyan Company, Tharpe Engineering, and Method Engineering Group, who made this award winning preservation possible! #myHSF #HSFAwards #HistoricPreservation #SavannahGA #PreservationMonth #historicrestoration

Welcome to our monthly Preservation, Explained series! This month, in lieu of Preservation Month, we want to celebrate the recently completed restoration of The Davenport House and use it as an opportunity to dive into the four types of treatment for historic buildings. The Davenport House, built c. 1820, underwent a major exterior restoration last year. Restoration is a word that gets used quite often as a general term for work done on a historic building, but what technically constitutes a restoration? A restoration is the process of depicting the form, features and character of a historic structure as it was at a particular period of time. This would include removing alterations from other periods in its history and potential reconstruction of missing features from the period of significance chosen for the restoration. The Davenport House’s period of interpretation is from 1820 to 1827 because this period was the most well documented. In the field of historic preservation there are four standards of treatment as per the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards: preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction. Let’s break down the other three treatments. Rehabilitation is the process of creating a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations, and additions, while preserving the characteristics which convey its historic, cultural, or architectural values. An example of this would be converting industrial warehouses into new apartments, while preserving the characteristics that make it significant. Reconstruction is the process of depicting the form, features, and details of a non-surviving site or structure by way of new construction. Colonial Williamsburg serves as an example of reconstruction. Preservation is the process of sustaining the existing form and materials of a historic structure. This involves protection and stabilization to prevent further damage or decay. Preservation is a great treatment measure if it is important to preserve the layers of alterations that the building has undergone in its history. Do you prefer historic buildings to look “original” or show changes over time? Tell us in the comments!

Congratulations to our 2026 Preservation Awards winners! HSF received many impressive nominations this year, but these projects stood out for their excellence in restoration, rehabilitation, stewardship, and craftsmanship. Stay tuned throughout the month as we highlight individual winners. Congratulations, and thank you to everyone who celebrated a wonderful evening with us last night at the Preservation Awards ceremony! HSF 2026 Preservation Award Winners: 7 W. Bay - Savannah Culinary Institute - Excellence in Rehabilitation The Lucas Theatre, 32 Abercorn St – Excellence in Craftsmanship Espy-Egan Cottage (Tybee Island) – Excellence in Rehabilitation The Streamliner Diner - Excellence in Restoration The Municipal Grand, 45 Abercorn Street - Excellence in Rehabilitation 705 Barnard - Emma Hamlet House – Excellence in Rehabilitation Forsyth Park Fountain – Excellence in Stewardship 2205 - 2207 MLK. Jr. Blvd – The President's Choice Award #preservationawards #myhsf #preservationmonth

Just one more week until the official opening of "The Seven Ladies", a special exhibition honoring the lives of the seven ladies who founded Historic Savannah Foundation and their lasting impact on Savannah. ✨ Join us for the opening reception on Thursday, May 14th at 5:30 PM! This event is free and open to the public and will feature special performances by Cass Panuska from Savannah Voice Festival (@savannahvoicefestival ) and the ladies of Spectra Choir (@spectrachoir ). 📍 323 E Broughton St RSVP on our website! #DavenportHouseMuseum #HistoricSavannahFoundation #TheSevenLadies #SavannahVoiceFestival #SpectraChoir

The open house for 917 Wexler was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who stopped by! #homerenovation #affordablehousing #savannahrealestate #historichomes

Thank you to everyone who came out for our Historic Preservation Family Day this weekend! ✨ Guests learned about preservation techniques with local experts from Austin Historical (@austinhistorical ) and Savannah Tech (@savannahtech ), enjoyed live music in the garden from Hollee Spring (@holleespringmusic ), and indulged in sweet treats from Ben & Jerry's (@benjerrysav ). If you made it out, tell us your favorite activity in the comments! Missed this one? Don't worry, we're already planning for our next Family Day in September with an extra special theme 🐲 *This event was made possible through generous investment by the City of Savannah* #DavenportHouseMuseum #HistoricPreservation #FamilyDay #SavannahEvents #ThingsToDoInSavannah