Low, Juliette Gordon, Historic District
Also known as: Wayne--Gordon House: First Girl Scout Headquarters; Andrew Low House and Carrige House
Why it's listed
Two Savannah properties make up this landmark, both linked to Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts in the United States. The Wayne-Gordon House at 10 Oglethorpe Avenue was built between 1818 and 1821 for jurist James Moore Wayne. It later passed to the Gordon family and was her birthplace and childhood home. A brick, stuccoed house, it gained a third floor and a curved east piazza in an 1886 renovation designed by Detlef Lienau. The Girl Scouts bought and restored it in 1953 and opened it to the public in 1956. The second property, at 330 Drayton Street, began as a carriage house and servants' quarters for the Andrew Low House, likely around 1849. In 1912 Low remodeled it as a meeting place for local troops, and she left it to the Savannah Girl Scout council. On March 12, 1912, she organized the first troop with eighteen girls. Membership had grown past 168,000 by her death in 1927.
Significance in brief: Both properties are tied to Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts in the United States and led the organization in its early years. She organized the first troop in Savannah on March 12, 1912. The birthplace was her childhood home, and the carriage house served as the first Girl Scout meeting place.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000276, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 10 Oglethorpe Ave., E., 330 Drayton St., 329 Abercorn St., Savannah |
|---|---|
| County | Chatham County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000276 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1860-1927 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (design of the Wayne-Gordon House traditionally attributed to William Jay without documentation; 1886 renovation by Detlef Lienau) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 23, 1965 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both properties are occupied and in good condition. The Wayne-Gordon House is a museum and educational center, and the First Girl Scout Headquarters building is leased to the Junior League of Savannah. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Savannah Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.07303, -81.09253 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000276.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6308995
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.