Holiday Traditions and Experiences of the Enslaved Community

The Davenport House Museum will present "Holiday Traditions and Experiences of the Enslaved Community" in partnership with Gullah-Geechee Master Storyteller Patt Gunn and the Saltwata Players on Friday, December 26, and Saturday, December 27 at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. Through engaging and immersive interpretation, guests will explore holiday traditions of the enslaved through song, dance, and spirituality.

Between 1812 and 1828, there were as many as 13 enslaved persons who occupied and held a range of responsibilities at the Davenport House on Columbia Square. These thought-provoking tours are designed to help local residents and visitors understand the historic experiences of enslaved workers who resided in the Federal-style home during the holiday season.

Patt Gunn is a Gullah-Geechee "daughter of the soil of Savannah" who founded the Geechee Institute in 1992. Over the years, she has developed festivals, hosted lectures, and spearheaded oral history projects for the Savannah community. She founded Underground Tours of Savannah in 2017 to share the history of her ancestors and to lead tours focused on Savannah's African-American and Gullah-Geechee history. Most recently, she led a three-year campaign that resulted in renaming Calhoun Square in honor of African-American nurse and educator Susie King Taylor.

The Davenport House Museum's "Holiday Traditions and Experiences of the Enslaved Community" tours are $50 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available online at davenporthousemuseum.org.