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Juliette Gordon Low Historic District consists of three buildings—the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace (also known as Wayne-Gordon House, First Girl Scout Headquarters, which was the carriage house for the Andrew Low House, converted for use by the Girl Scouts in May–June 1912, and said Andrew Low Carriage House, is a site in
National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Juliette Gordon Low Historic District (Revised Documentation) / (1) Wayne-Gordon House (also known as the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace), (2) First Girl Scout Headquarters (Andrew Low Carriage House), (3) Andrew Low House
National Park Service and
The ''Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace'', also known as the Wayne-Gordon House, is owned by the Girl Scouts of the USA, and is a popular historic house museum for the general public and a Girl Scout national center commonly known as "The Birthplace". The house was built in 1818–1821 for James Moore Wayne, then the mayor of Savannah. Wayne was appointed to fill an unexpired term in the US House of Representatives, and then to the US Supreme Court, taking him to live in Washington, DC. In 1831, Wayne sold the house to his niece Sarah Stites Gordon, and her husband William Washington Gordon I, the first of four generations of Gordons to live in the house. They were Juliette Gordon Low's grandparents and her parents.
Juliette Low's parents, William Washington Gordon II and Eleanor Kinzie Gordon made major changes to the house in 1886, adding the fourth floor and the side piazza. Juliette Gordon Low was married in 1886, and spent much of the rest of her life living in England, though often visiting her parents at home and other family and friends in New York, New Jersey and Savannah every year.
As a restless and energetic widow in 1911, Juliette Gordon Low met Robert Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts. He recruited her to become involved in the Girl Guides, and in 1912 she returned home to Savannah to start the movement in the US. While staying in her parents' home, she telephoned her cousin, Nina Anderson Pape, saying, ''"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."'' She recruited girls all over town, on the steps of churches and the synagogue, from her cousin Nina's students, and the daughters of friends and acquaintances. Juliette Low held elaborate teas for the Girl Scouts in her mother's parlor as a way to recruit girls to the movement.
The Girl Scouts of the USA purchased the home in 1953, and have restored the house to serve as a portal to the Girl Scout Movement. In 1954, Savannah Landscape Architect Clermont Huger Lee planned the design and planting for a new formal period garden. Opened in 1956 as a
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
at Girl Scouts of the USA * * * {{National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmarks in Savannah, Georgia Historic American Buildings Survey in Georgia (U.S. state) Historic American Landscapes Survey in Georgia (U.S. state) Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Georgia (U.S. state) Girl Scouts of the USA Historic house museums in Georgia (U.S. state) Museums in Savannah, Georgia Scouting museums in the United States Geography of Savannah, Georgia National Register of Historic Places in Savannah, Georgia Low, Julia Gordon Savannah Historic District
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia and is the county seat of Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later t ...
, significant for its association with Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low (October 31, 1860 – January 17, 1927) was the American founder of Girl Scouts of the USA. Inspired by the work of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Boy Scouts, she joined the Girl Guide movement in England, forming her own g ...
and the founding of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
The district includes the Wayne-Gordon House at 10 East Oglethorpe Avenue, which is also known as Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, the First Girl Scout Headquarters (Andrew Low Carriage House) at 330 Drayton Street, and the Andrew Low House at 329 Abercorn Street.
The Birthplace was designated as a National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
in 1965. The initial designation included the First Girl Scout Headquarters. The Andrew Low House was later added to the designation creating the Juliette Gordon Low Landmark District.Marti Gerdes, Robert W. Blythe, and Patty Henry (March 21, 2005National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Juliette Gordon Low Historic District (Revised Documentation) / (1) Wayne-Gordon House (also known as the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace), (2) First Girl Scout Headquarters (Andrew Low Carriage House), (3) Andrew Low House
National Park Service and
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
The ''Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace'', also known as the Wayne-Gordon House, is owned by the Girl Scouts of the USA, and is a popular historic house museum for the general public and a Girl Scout national center commonly known as "The Birthplace". The house was built in 1818–1821 for James Moore Wayne, then the mayor of Savannah. Wayne was appointed to fill an unexpired term in the US House of Representatives, and then to the US Supreme Court, taking him to live in Washington, DC. In 1831, Wayne sold the house to his niece Sarah Stites Gordon, and her husband William Washington Gordon I, the first of four generations of Gordons to live in the house. They were Juliette Gordon Low's grandparents and her parents.
Juliette Low's parents, William Washington Gordon II and Eleanor Kinzie Gordon made major changes to the house in 1886, adding the fourth floor and the side piazza. Juliette Gordon Low was married in 1886, and spent much of the rest of her life living in England, though often visiting her parents at home and other family and friends in New York, New Jersey and Savannah every year.
As a restless and energetic widow in 1911, Juliette Gordon Low met Robert Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts. He recruited her to become involved in the Girl Guides, and in 1912 she returned home to Savannah to start the movement in the US. While staying in her parents' home, she telephoned her cousin, Nina Anderson Pape, saying, ''"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."'' She recruited girls all over town, on the steps of churches and the synagogue, from her cousin Nina's students, and the daughters of friends and acquaintances. Juliette Low held elaborate teas for the Girl Scouts in her mother's parlor as a way to recruit girls to the movement.
The Girl Scouts of the USA purchased the home in 1953, and have restored the house to serve as a portal to the Girl Scout Movement. In 1954, Savannah Landscape Architect Clermont Huger Lee planned the design and planting for a new formal period garden. Opened in 1956 as a historic house museum
A historic house museum is a house of historic significance that has been transformed into a museum. Historic furnishings may be displayed in a way that reflects their original placement and usage in a home. Historic house museums are held to a ...
, the home features many original Gordon family furnishings, including art by Juliette Gordon Low herself. The Birthplace was designated as Savannah's first National Historic Landmark in 1965, on the first National Register of Historic Places.
The Birthplace is open for general tours Monday through Saturday. Store hours are Monday through Saturday. The site is closed Sundays and major holidays. Hours vary according to the season. Check the museum website for more information and to reserve a tour.
See also
* List of National Historic Landmarks in Georgia (U.S. state) *National Register of Historic Places listings in Chatham County, Georgia
This is a list of properties and districts in Chatham County, Georgia that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of ...
References
External links
* *Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
at Girl Scouts of the USA * * * {{National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmarks in Savannah, Georgia Historic American Buildings Survey in Georgia (U.S. state) Historic American Landscapes Survey in Georgia (U.S. state) Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Georgia (U.S. state) Girl Scouts of the USA Historic house museums in Georgia (U.S. state) Museums in Savannah, Georgia Scouting museums in the United States Geography of Savannah, Georgia National Register of Historic Places in Savannah, Georgia Low, Julia Gordon Savannah Historic District