The stately Federal-style home, built by master carpenter Isaiah Davenport for his household, provides a glimpse into 1820s domestic life in the urban port city of Savannah. After his death in 1827, Davenport's wife converted their home into a boarding house. The house later changed hands, remaining a boarding house that slowly fell into decline and neglect.

In 1955 the saving of the Davenport House from demolition was the first effort of Historic Savannah Foundation, which has gone on to national prominence as a preservation leader as well as ushering in the preservation renaissance of the coastal city. The museum received the Preserve America Presidential Award for its period-accurate re-restoration to more fully tell the story of daily life in early 19th-century Savannah.