The Society of the Arkansas Dames supports two museum properties, The Historic Museum of Arkansas, and the Brownlee-Noland House which is located on the same property. Our society gives to this museum through a foundation. The income from this foundation is used to support the Brownlee-Noland House and programs related to the house and its interpretation.
The Brownlee-Noland House (click on title to see pictures)
The Brownlee-Noland House is one of several buildings comprising the Historical Arkansas Museum. It is an example of vernacular houses, built according to traditions handed down from generation to generation. It has typical Greek Revival styling, with finely crafted stone lintels and key situated above the doorway on the front facade.
Tradition has it that the lawyer Charles Fenton Mercer Noland lived here. In 1836, Noland took the newly ratified Arkansas State Constitution to Washington, D.C. on horseback. Congress approved the constitution and Arkansas became the twenty-fifth state in June of that year.
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Arkansas makes an annual contribution to the Brownlee-Noland House, which is used by The Arkansas Historical Museum staff to acquire items that will further enhance the educational value of the house.
Traditional, historically accurate mid 19th century backyard garden is in the rear.
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Arkansas also helps to support historic properties, such as Gunston Hall , in Lorton,Virginia and Dumbarton
Gunston Hall preserves, interprets and promotes this 18th century historic site in order to educate the public about the ideals of George Mason. It is owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia and has been administered by a Board of Regents composed entirely of members of the NSCDA since 1932. Gunston's mission is to utilize fully the physical and scholarly resources of Gunston to stimulate continuing public exploration of democratic ideals as first presented by George Mason in the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights.
Headquarters of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America
2715 Q Street NW Washington, D. C
"The mission of the Dumbarton House Museum, a Federal period historic house museum, is to preserve the historic structure and its collections and to educate the public about life in Washington, D.C., during the early years of the Republic. Emphasis is placed on Joseph Nourse, first Registrar of the Treasury, and his family, and their occupation of the property from 1804 through 1813."
Vision:
*To increase recognition of Dumbarton house as a museum of the highest professional standards for its collections of decorative arts, architecture and gardens and for its interpretation of life in Georgetown and the city of Washington during the Federal period;
*To expand educational and public programs to serve a larger and more diverse audience;
*To achieve greater recognition for the role of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) in regional and national historic preservation efforts and in promoting education about American history;
*To expand awareness among NSCDA members nationwide that Dumbarton House is their national headquarters.
Sulgrave Manor, the ancestral home of George Washington, first president of the United States, was built in the early part of the 16th century by his 5th great grandfather, Lawrence Washington. It is a superb example of a 16th-century Manor House and Garden.
We are now about to celebrate one hundred years of the Dames helping to preserve this Manor House. The Manor has suffered from many years of deferred maintenance, but because of the contributions of many generous Dames in the NSCDA, the Friends of Sulgrave Manor were able to donate over $125,000 to the Manor in 2012. This money was used to fund such essentials as installing a fir alarm, enlarging the Tudor herb garden and hiring an architect to advise and make recommendations of future needs. In 2013 the Friends of Sulgrave Manor will concentrate on expanding the Educational program.
In 1914, Sulgrave Manor was presented by a body of British subscribers to the People of Great Britain and the United States, in celebration of the Hundred Years of Peace between the two nations. In 1924, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America raised $112,000 from 35,000 subscribers to endow the Manor and Grounds in perpetuity. Today the manor is valued at about $1.5 million and has maintained two representatives to their British Board to assist in the ongoing maintenance and management of this superb manor.
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Arkansas also helps to support historic properties, such as Gunston Hall , in Lorton,Virginia and Dumbarton
Gunston Hall
Gunston Hall (c 1755), home of George Mason of Mason Neck, Virginia, was internationally significant for his unique contribution to the universal cause of human rights.
Dumbarton House
Headquarters of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America
2715 Q Street NW Washington, D. C
"The mission of the Dumbarton House Museum, a Federal period historic house museum, is to preserve the historic structure and its collections and to educate the public about life in Washington, D.C., during the early years of the Republic. Emphasis is placed on Joseph Nourse, first Registrar of the Treasury, and his family, and their occupation of the property from 1804 through 1813."
Vision:
*To increase recognition of Dumbarton house as a museum of the highest professional standards for its collections of decorative arts, architecture and gardens and for its interpretation of life in Georgetown and the city of Washington during the Federal period;
*To expand educational and public programs to serve a larger and more diverse audience;
*To achieve greater recognition for the role of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) in regional and national historic preservation efforts and in promoting education about American history;
*To expand awareness among NSCDA members nationwide that Dumbarton House is their national headquarters.
Sulgrave Manor
We are now about to celebrate one hundred years of the Dames helping to preserve this Manor House. The Manor has suffered from many years of deferred maintenance, but because of the contributions of many generous Dames in the NSCDA, the Friends of Sulgrave Manor were able to donate over $125,000 to the Manor in 2012. This money was used to fund such essentials as installing a fir alarm, enlarging the Tudor herb garden and hiring an architect to advise and make recommendations of future needs. In 2013 the Friends of Sulgrave Manor will concentrate on expanding the Educational program.
In 1914, Sulgrave Manor was presented by a body of British subscribers to the People of Great Britain and the United States, in celebration of the Hundred Years of Peace between the two nations. In 1924, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America raised $112,000 from 35,000 subscribers to endow the Manor and Grounds in perpetuity. Today the manor is valued at about $1.5 million and has maintained two representatives to their British Board to assist in the ongoing maintenance and management of this superb manor.