History Lessons

You don’t always have to learn about history from a text book. Immerse yourself into early-American history, centuries-old gardens, and historic preservation by digging deeper into what we’re learning at Dumbarton House.

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  • From the Garden
  • 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 …

From the Garden

Restoration of the North Garden Niche

Preservation requires understanding the history and construction of the object or structure being preserved if it is to be done correctly. If not careful, our …

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 …

From the Garden

Dumbarton House Featured Flora: Globe Amaranth

Gomphrena Globosa Globe amaranth, scientifically known as gomphrena globosa, is native to South and Central America and is a member of the Amaranthaceous family. It is …

From the Garden

Dumbarton House Featured Flora: Japanese Cedar

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’ The Japanese Cedar is native to forested areas in Japan and China and is a species in the Redwood family. The foliage …