“The collection and preservation of objects was an original component of the NSDAR vision when the society began in 1890. The founders imagined “… a place for the collection of historical relics … portraits, pictures, etc. … in a fireproof building.”

Today, the DAR Museum looks at the American experience through objects and art of the American home from the Colonial Era to the 20th century. As the only decorative arts museum in Washington, D.C., the DAR Museum collects and displays furniture, paintings, ceramics, textiles, costumes, metals, and other objects that reflect the human experience. We support the NSDAR’s goals of historic preservation, education and patriotism by preserving and interpreting the material culture and social history of pre-industrial America.

The museum includes 31 period rooms and two galleries for rotating exhibitions. The DAR Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

We are free and open to the public. For more information, see the DAR Museum website or follow us on Facebook.