The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) works to inspire all people to understand and honor our origins as a nation. By promoting respect for the people, places and events that led to the formation and development of our country, we hope to encourage the patriotism of our fellow citizens, fostering awareness and understanding. We attempt to achieve this by creating widespread interest in the stories of our Colonial origins and by inviting all people to honor the wisdom and valor of those whose sacrifices and achievements gave birth to our great nation.

The NSCDA, founded in 1891, is an unincorporated association of 44 Corporate Societies with more than 15,000 members. The Society headquarters is located at Dumbarton House, a Federal period house museum in Washington, D.C.  Our Society actively promotes our national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service and educational projects. We sponsor a number of scholarship programs, most notably, the American Indian Nurse Scholarship and the Congressional Essay Contest for high school students.

With the creation of Great American Treasures, the NSCDA Museum Alliance, we have brought together more than 60 museum properties, monuments, and historic sites owned or substantially supported by the NSCDA and our Corporate Societies. Great American Treasures amplifies the depth and breadth of the NSCDA preservation efforts country-wide and demonstrates the value of preservation in teaching about history.

Through Great American Treasures, where our sites tell the stories of how America became America, we continue to be leaders in the field of historic preservation.

Our Founders provided us with a legacy of connecting our generosity with our purpose. Our members continue this legacy of generosity as we carry out our mission today.  To protect our freedom and ensure the perpetuity of our republic, it is our responsibility as descendants of the Founders to make sure the stories of our origins and the development of our country not only endure but also have the power to inspire future generations.

Click HERE for our 2022 Annual Report.

See our 2021 IRS Form-990 HERE.

Learn more about the history of the NSCDA HERE.