Continental Congress (National)

 

The Daughters of the American Revolution Continental Congress is a time-honored tradition that has been held in Washington, D.C., as the annual national meeting of the DAR membership since the organization’s founding in 1890. Not to be confused with the United States “Congress,” the DAR national meeting is named after the original Continental Congress which governed the American Colonies during the Revolutionary War.

National, state, and chapter DAR leaders, as well as other members from across the world, meet at the DAR National Headquarters for a week during the summer to report on the year’s work, honor outstanding award recipients, plan future initiatives, and reconnect with friends. Those in attendance include over 3,000 delegates representing the membership of 175,000 Daughters from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and many international chapters. Since its founding, the DAR has promoted historic preservation, education, and patriotism, and those objectives are reflected in all of the events of DAR Continental Congress.

The week-long convention consists of business sessions, committee meetings, social functions, and is topped off with three formal evening ceremonies: Opening Night, Education Awards Night, and National Defense Awards Night. These evening ceremonies, held in the historic DAR Constitution Hall, mix pomp and circumstance with touching award presentations and musical entertainment.

In addition to member awards and student essay and scholarship awards, the DAR presents its top national awards at the convention.