Your hosts are Anneliesa Barta and Architect Jim Smith, one of Denver’s top architects. We are "professional nesters" - we love renovating homes and creating places for us, our family and our guests to dwell - and stay awhile! When you visit Hannibal you will notice that the area is revitalizing with many homes under renovation, a new waterfront and new stores on its vibrant Main Street. We are part of this movement, with four completed renovation projects and more underway.

To date we have hosted over 400 satisfied guests between our various properties in Colorado, South Dakota and Missouri. Together we are building a portfolio of distinguished properties in places of importance in American history. We offer the discriminating traveler a truly authentic experience of a period home, furnished with a view toward harmony, simplicity and modern comforts. Come, be our guest – and stay awhile!

Anneliesa Barta
Anneliesa works in Environmental Consulting as a Project Manager for AECOM. Her professional background includes working 3 years as General Manager for a renovated historic hotel in Maryland. That experience provided her with a deep understanding of hospitality that she applies to hosting guests in short term vacation rentals.

Jim Smith
"Caring for the structures of the past is a worthy pursuit" says Architect Jim Smith of SmithsArchitects. He has a keen eye for historic preservation, and personally oversees all aspects of building and renovation. He loves to restore properties to their former beauty by working with original woodwork, detailing and period fixtures. As a result, you can literally FEEL HISTORY in the renovated spaces that is respectful to original builders and craftsman, and materials.

The Historic Eleanor Davis House is a Queen Anne Victorian home built in 1894 by Edward W. Herriman of Herriman Lumber. The millwork of each room was crafted of different exotic woods. Handcrafted ornate wood fretwork adorns the Front Hall, and entrances to the Living Room and Kitchen, which retain their original sliding doors. The doors and mouldings of the home have never been painted and can be experienced in their original state. Other fine details include the Front Porch with original baroque balusters, carved gables, entablature above paired colonnettes, ornamental corbels, beveled and leaded glass and a handcrafted staircase.

Eleanor Davis was a gifted pianist, composer and had a beautiful soprano voice. In 1922, she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, giving a vocal and piano recital of her own compositions. Eleanor and her mother Tully performed as a music duo in many venues in New York City with many distinguished musicians of the time. They hosted a national radio show that debuted in 1925 and continued for decades. Throughout her career, Eleanor composed more than 80 works for voice, piano, organ, strings and ensemble.

After Eleanor's death in 1973, the home sat vacant for many years and fell into a state of disrepair but was restored to its former beauty in 2023 by Architect Jim Smith and his wife Anneliesa. Formerly the Edward W. Herriman House, the home was renamed to honor Eleanor Davis, the Hannibal native and lifelong resident who achieved greatly in the music business as an educator, an opera singer and a rare woman composer of serious / classical music on the national stage.

Staying here offers the traveler in search of history a uniquely clear connection to Hannibal's past, its place in time and to the local culture – with modern amenities.