The Tennessee Dames support the following Historic House Museums through our direct involvement. Through Great American Treasures, where over 70 historic sites around the country tell the stories of how America became America, the NSCDA continues to lead in the field of historic preservation.
Travellers Rest in Nashville, Tennessee
Built in 1799, Travellers Rest Historic House Museum is Nashville’s oldest historic house which is open to the public. In 1954, The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Tennessee (NSCDA-TN) purchased Travellers Rest from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad for the symbolic sum of one dollar, and their acquisition saved the house and grounds from potential demolition. The NSCDA-TN then began restoration efforts and opened Travellers Rest as a historic house museum. Currently, Travellers Rest is operated by a community board of directors.
The museum endeavors to preserve and share the legacy of the Overton residence and its grounds, inviting people of all ages to connect with Nashville’s rich past. With a strong emphasis on historical education, the museum welcomes over 12,000 visitors annually, including both students and adults. Its programming spans a millennium of history—from the early Mississippian culture before European contact to the 1800s—highlighting the historical significance of John Overton’s home.
Travellers Rest is a proud member of the NSCDA’s Great American Treasures program, and we sincerely hope that you will visit soon!
Dumbarton House in Washington, D.C.
Dumbarton House, the sole property wholly owned and managed by The NSCDA, is a Federal-style residence built in 1799 and nestled in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown district. The property features a museum, event facilities, and scenic grounds. Purchased in 1928 by a forward-thinking group of Dames, the site is now overseen by the Dumbarton House Board—a committee of dedicated NSCDA members who advise on its preservation and operations.
By showcasing its historic estate and collections, Dumbarton House Museum fosters appreciation for early American history and the importance of preservation, aiming to inspire both present and future generations through the legacy of the nation’s founding ideals. Dumbarton House Museum boasts a rich collection of over 1,000 artifacts—ranging from Federal-period furniture and paintings to textiles, silver, and ceramics dating from 1789 to 1825. Complementing these objects is an extensive archive of manuscripts and documents, including journals, ledgers, and personal correspondence, which together offer a window into nearly three centuries of the Nourse family’s history.
Dumbarton House in Washington, D.C.
Dumbarton House, the sole property wholly owned and managed by The NSCDA, is a Federal-style residence built in 1799 and nestled in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown district. The property features a museum, event facilities, and scenic grounds. Purchased in 1928 by a forward-thinking group of Dames, the site is now overseen by the Dumbarton House Board—a committee of dedicated NSCDA members who advise on its preservation and operations.
By showcasing its historic estate and collections, Dumbarton House Museum fosters appreciation for early American history and the importance of preservation, aiming to inspire both present and future generations through the legacy of the nation’s founding ideals. Dumbarton House Museum boasts a rich collection of over 1,000 artifacts—ranging from Federal-period furniture and paintings to textiles, silver, and ceramics dating from 1789 to 1825. Complementing these objects is an extensive archive of manuscripts and documents, including journals, ledgers, and personal correspondence, which together offer a window into nearly three centuries of the Nourse family’s history.
Gunston Hall in Mason Neck, Virginia
Deemed the Father of the Bill of Rights, George Mason built Gunston Hall built between 1755 and 1759, and his family resided there until 1867, a period of approximately 108 to 112 years. In the 1930s, Louis Hertle, then owner of Gunston Hall, sought ways to safeguard the estate’s historic legacy. Honoring the wish of his late wife, Eleanor Daughaday Hertle, he envisioned the property serving as a tribute to George Mason. Hertle believed this vision could be realized through collaboration between the Commonwealth of Virginia and The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA). In 1932, the Commonwealth officially accepted the donation of Gunston Hall, placing its stewardship under a Board of Regents appointed by the NSCDA.
Currently operating as a historic house museum, Gunston Hall’s collection offers a vivid glimpse into the daily experiences of affluent Virginians in the late 1700s. From candlesticks and tea tables to bedsteads, these artifacts illuminate the lives of both the Mason family and the enslaved and indentured individuals who lived and worked on the estate. Many pieces were once owned by the Masons, while others—like salt-glazed stoneware and creamware dishes—mirror items unearthed through archaeological digs. Drawing on research into the homes of the Masons’ contemporaries, the collection continues to grow as new insights and discoveries emerge.
Sulgrave Manor in Banbury, UK
Sulgrave Manor, located in Northamptonshire, England, is the ancestral home of George Washington, the first US President. It was built in the mid-16th century by Lawrence Washington, George Washington’s great-great-great-grandfather. The NSCDA raised a substantial endowment fund in 1924, to ensure the long-term preservation of Sulgrave Manor. This fund supports ongoing maintenance and operational costs. The NSCDA established the Friends of Sulgrave Manor in 1978, a 501(c)3 organization, to further support the manor through fundraising in the United States. The involvement of the NSCDA includes providing endowment funds for the property, supporting its maintenance and operations, and promoting its educational value. The manor is now a historic house museum and a symbol of Anglo-American friendship, recognized for its connection to Washington’s lineage and the shared history between the UK and the US.
In 2014, Sulgrave Manor marked the bicentennial of peace between the United States and Great Britain, commemorating the 1814 Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. A century earlier, in 1914, British donors had purchased Sulgrave Manor as a symbolic gift to both nations in honor of 100 years of harmony. A hundred years later, the manor once again stood as a symbol of enduring friendship, celebrating not only this milestone but also the vital role the NSCDA has played in supporting Sulgrave Manor over the past century.
Sulgrave Manor in Banbury, UK
Sulgrave Manor, located in Northamptonshire, England, is the ancestral home of George Washington, the first US President. It was built in the mid-16th century by Lawrence Washington, George Washington’s great-great-great-grandfather. The NSCDA raised a substantial endowment fund in 1924, to ensure the long-term preservation of Sulgrave Manor. This fund supports ongoing maintenance and operational costs. The NSCDA established the Friends of Sulgrave Manor in 1978, a 501(c)3 organization, to further support the manor through fundraising in the United States. The involvement of the NSCDA includes providing endowment funds for the property, supporting its maintenance and operations, and promoting its educational value. The manor is now a historic house museum and a symbol of Anglo-American friendship, recognized for its connection to Washington’s lineage and the shared history between the UK and the US.
In 2014, Sulgrave Manor marked the bicentennial of peace between the United States and Great Britain, commemorating the 1814 Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. A century earlier, in 1914, British donors had purchased Sulgrave Manor as a symbolic gift to both nations in honor of 100 years of harmony. A hundred years later, the manor once again stood as a symbol of enduring friendship, celebrating not only this milestone but also the vital role the NSCDA has played in supporting Sulgrave Manor over the past century.