Sheryl Davis

Sheryl Davis is described as a “rising star,” “mover and shaker” and “innovator” in developing the role of music landmarks specialist. She has been acknowledged for her unique contributions to historic preservation as the recipient of various awards, ambassadorships and publication opportunities in the US and abroad.

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When beginning her formal journey in historic preservation, Sheryl started as an intern at the National Trust for Historic Preservation field office in San Francisco. While there she studied classical-traditional architecture through the Northern California Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art and explored sustainable design methods in the repair and adaptive use of existing and historic buildings at the San Francisco Institute of Architecture in Berkeley. She then attended the Poplar Forest Architectural Restoration Field School in Forest, Virginia. Following these first professional field experiences Sheryl pursued a Master of Arts in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design’s School of Building Arts, which, wherever possible, contained self-designed/motivated coursework and research projects focused on place-based music history and heritage.

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Sheryl’s M.A. final project, State of Rock 2012: A Current Look at the Built Heritage of 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll in America, was the first-known national historic resources inventory and preservation activity survey of 100 buildings significant to early rock ’n' roll and its roots genres, a watershed in the beginnings of defining a national landscape for the study and preservation of rock 'n' roll's built heritage and more broadly, that of US popular music. Over 10 years later, this initial research project has expanded into an ever-growing and evolving national inventory that features a wide range of musical genres, architectural styles, geographies and walks of life that reflect defining eras in the diverse and complex American story. It is filled with case studies including projects that demonstrate Sheryl’s impassioned dedication to documenting, preserving and interpreting US music landmarks. 

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With over 10 years of professional practice and continued research as a music landmarks specialist, Sheryl has launched the American Music Landmarks Project as a national platform to share her unique knowledge and experience in cultivating public awareness, appreciation and support for the places that shaped our collective music history - one of the United States' greatest contributions to world culture! When thoughtfully preserved and activated as civic storytelling mediums, Sheryl believes that these cultural embassies offer us the most authentic, immersive and multi-sensory experiences with our musical past, introducing new and exciting possibilities for economic, cultural and environmental sustainability.​​​