Our Mission

The mission of Dumbarton House, the national headquarters of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA), is to support the NSCDA Corporate Societies and their members; to maintain an historic museum property, which serves as a resource for the NSCDA nationally; and to contribute to the cultural life of the surrounding community.

Through the interpretation of its historic site and collections, Dumbarton House Museum promotes the understanding of historic preservation and of the early history of our nation, so that the lives and ideals of early Americans inspire current and future generations.

Details of our organization and achievements are presented in our annual reports.

History of the Home

Education

Ninety Years of Dumbarton House!

In 1927, the National Board of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) approved that the Society should “acquire an old, historic …

History of the Home

The Hidden Figures of Dumbarton House: Slavery and Servitude within the Nourse family Household

For over a decade interns, volunteers, and staff at Dumbarton House have been researching the question—did the Nourse family have any enslaved workers or indentured …

History of the Home

Digitizing the NSCDA Archives

This article contains the work of several interns who have been involved in the ongoing process of digitizing the many records in the archives of …

History of the Home

Interpretation

Visitors to Dumbarton House return in time to when Joseph Nourse, first Register of the U.S. Treasury, and his wife Maria, made their home here, between 1804 and 1813. …

Black and White Dumbarton House c 1920 Library of Congress History of the Home

Preservation

Historic Preservation Story Preservation projects aimed at returning Dumbarton House to the simplicity of its original Federal design were begun in 1931, three years after …

History of the Home

Federal Style (1790 -1830)

Dumbarton House is fine example of Federal period architecture. Our nation’s early years, from 1790 to 1830, generally define the Federal period. During this time, …

Dolley Madison

Dining with Dolley In Dumbarton House’s Nourse family letter collection are invitations from President Jefferson, for whom Dolley often served as hostess while James was …

Joseph Nourse (1754-1841)

America’s First Civil Servant As first Register of the Treasury, Joseph Nourse was a highly respected and distinguished civil servant. With a career that spanned 40 …

History of the Home

Chronology

1703  The Maryland Assembly grants Scottish immigrant Ninian Beall a tract of 795 acres for his services “[against] all incursions and disturbances of neighboring Indians.” …

Our Partners

We’re happy to partner with neighboring historic sites and organizations to enhance cultural life in the Washington, D.C. community.

Museum Organizations & Associations

  • Georgetown Business Improvement District
  • Cultural Tourism DC
  • H-DC History and Culture Website and List
  • American Alliance of Museums
  • Destination D.C.
  • The National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • Citizens Association of Georgetown