Daughters of the American Revolution Museum (DAR)

Daughters of the American Revolution Museum (DAR) Review

The headquarters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Beaux-Arts Memorial Continental Hall was the site of the DAR's annual congress until the larger Constitution Hall was built around the corner. An entrance on D Street leads to the museum. Its 30,000-item collection includes fine examples of colonial and Federal furniture, textiles, quilts, silver, china, porcelain, stoneware, earthenware, and glass. Thirty-one period rooms are decorated in styles representative of various U.S. states, ranging from an 1850 California adobe parlor to a New Hampshire attic filled with 18th- and 19th-century toys. Two galleries—one of them permanent—hold decorative arts. Docent tours are available weekdays 10-2:30 and Saturday 9-5. In the Touch of Independence education center for children, families can explore early American life through period games and costumes. During the Colonial Adventure tours, held the first and third Sunday of the month at 1:30 and 3 from September through May, costumed docents use the objects on display to teach children ages five to seven about day-to-day life in colonial America. Reservations are required two weeks in advance. Experience hands-on crafts, games and a tour on Fun Family Saturdays every third Saturday, September to June.