It's hard to believe another year has passed! This has been an exciting time for the Birthplace, full of new programs, special events, and community outreach. Here are a few highlights of the year:
In February, we participated in Super Museum Sunday. We welcomed over 400 guests into the museum, our biggest post-pandemic Super Museum Sunday turnout!
In April, we launched our event rentals service, and in May, hosted our first wedding reception. Thank you for trusting us with your special day, Kyle and Karla!
Also in May, Stacy Cordery, author of Juliette Gordon Low: The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts, came to Savannah to lecture on Juliette Gordon Low at the Learning Center of Senior Citizens, Inc. We were honored she paid a visit to the Birthplace before her lecture.
In June, the Birthplace was in full swing with Girl Scout troops and visitors from all over the world! We hosted Girl Scout troops from both Alaska and Hawaii, as well as Girl Guides from New Zealand and Australia.
In July, a handful of team members attended the National Girl Scout Convention in Orlando to share the history of the Birthplace and Girl Scouting with convention goers! July also marked the launch of our new art-making program, Picture This! We love seeing Girl Scouts channel their creative side in this Girl Scout Troop Experience.
In August, we launched our Quiet Hour tours for guests wanting to explore the Birthplace at their own pace in a peaceful environment. Additionally, we hosted our first Trolly and Tourism Open House for those working in Savannah's hospitality and tourism industry. Our Birthplace team enjoyed sharing our favorite anecdotes and fun facts about Juliette Gordon Low with our fellow hospitality and tourism workers!
In September, we received the 2023 Traveler's Choice Award from TripAdvisor. This recognition puts us among the top 10% of TripAdvisor's global business listings this year. Thank you to our visitors for your support and praise. We couldn't have done it without you.
In October, we celebrated Juliette Gordon Low's birthday with members of Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. Each year, the Birthplace partners with a local organization for a community outreach project. This year, we were delighted to work with Over the Moon Diaper and Period Supply Bank to assemble period packs for those in need. Over 200 packs were made by visitors!
In December, we cheered on runners in the Savannah Bridge Run. Kudos to all the race participants who endured the cold and rain during the race!
2023 has been a great year full of exciting and new experiences for the Birthplace, and we are so grateful to everyone who has visited us this year.
And coming next year…
We have loads of exciting things planned for 2024, including the relaunch of Birthplace Bound, our travel planner for troops visiting Savannah, and a lecture series covering a wide range of Progressive Era topics. Keep an eye out for more information on our website and social media pages in the coming months.
From all of us at the Juliette Gordon Birthplace, happy holidays!