When I tell people I belong to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), sometimes they ask what the DAR is or what it does. Generally, I tell them that DAR members can trace their lineage back to a Revolutionary War patriot and that its members honor American history. But, there’s much more to the organization. Here are seven things to know about the DAR that you might find interesting.
- The DAR was founded on October 11,1890 by Mary S. Lockwood, Ellen Walworth, Mary Desha, and Eugenia Washington, after the newly formed Sons of the American Revolution resolved to exclude women.
- The DAR’ mission is to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism.
- Since its founding, the DAR has admitted more than 950,000 members, and currently 180,000 women belong to 3,000 chapters around the world.
- Any woman, 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a person who assisted in the American Revolution, may join the DAR.
- The DAR headquarters is located in Washington, DC, on a campus that includes Memorial Continental Hall, Constitution Hall, the DAR Museum, the DAR Library, and the Americana Collection.
- The DAR is not a political organization and does not lobby. Its members subscribe to individual political philosophies.
- The DAR provides scholarships to high school and college students. It also awards grants to 501(c)(3) organizations to support projects that exemplify the DAR mission of historic preservation, education, and patriotism. DAR members log millions of hours volunteering in their communities each year.
So, there you have it: seven things to know about the DAR. The DAR website contains much more interesting information about DAR activities. Visit it at www.dar.org.
Comment on “7 Things to Know about the DAR”
Clara The DAR allows transgender people to join and eliminated GOD from their opening “ritual” and prominence on the website. It used to loudly showcase “God, Home, Country”…no more. They have purchased property without never approval and committed egregious acts against members, silencing them through a term called circularization. If anyone mentions what I’ve just shared, they are bullied from the top down and called liars. There are several thousand women who have resigned over the past year, but the larger issue is the deceptive and aggressive nature of the women in leadership. This wreaks of Masonic origins and is a disgust to those of us who take pride in knowing our ancestors fought for freedoms while DAR is working to strip us of those GOD given rights. I urge women to do research far more deeply than a basic internet search and seek the truth.
2026 update: Clara brings up some very concerning points. . .
