Acalanes Chapter, NSDAR

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Lafayette, CA
Acalanes Chapter, NSDAR

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Members are all lineal descendants of those who supported the cause of independence in the Revolutionary War.

The Acalanes Chapter, located in Lafayette, California, is part of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, whose members trace their ancestry back to service in the American Revolutionary War. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR) is a non-profit, non-political, non-partisan volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.

11/06/2026

Do You Know a High School Senior Interested in Horticulture? A Scholarship of Up to $10,000 Is Available! 🌱

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is offering the Robert Hunter Swadley Horticulture Scholarship, worth up to $10,000, to a graduating California high school senior planning to major in horticulture in college. To qualify, students must be California residents, U.S. citizens, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and plan to enter an accredited U.S. college or university as freshmen majoring in horticulture. DAR membership is not required. Applications are open through January 31, 2027. Our local Acalanes Chapter, DAR, would love to help a Contra Costa County student discover this opportunity! Do you know a student who loves plants, gardening, or growing things and might be considering horticulture as a career? Please share this information with them! Apply or learn more at https://dar.academicworks.com/.

10/28/2026

🗽 140 years ago today — October 28, 1886 — the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor.

A gift from France, she has stood for 140 years as a symbol of liberty and of the historic friendship between France and the United States.

In Orinda, the anniversary is being celebrated in two places! The Orinda Historical Society has created a companion window display filled with historic images and memorabilia, while the Acalanes Chapter, NSDAR is presenting “Liberty at 140 — A Gift from France” at the Orinda Library through early November.

The library exhibit tells the fascinating story of the Statue — from her creation in Paris and journey across the Atlantic to her construction in New York, the famous words of Emma Lazarus, and the ideals she has come to represent.

Pictured at the Orinda Historical Society window are Vanessa Crews of the Acalanes Chapter and Alison B, president of the Orinda Historical Society.

Two displays, one remarkable story — and a wonderful reason to celebrate Lady Liberty on her 140th birthday. 🇺🇸 🇫🇷

10/26/2026

🍂 DAR at Flannel & Foliage in Danville! 🍂

Members of the Acalanes Chapter and Mt. Diablo Chapter, NSDAR joined forces for a wonderful weekend at Danville’s Flannel & Foliage Festival.

A special thank-you to Cottage Jewel, the charming vintage and antique shop on Hartz Avenue, for generously providing a tent for our DAR display. With Benjamin Franklin and George Washington standing nearby, we had no trouble attracting attention!

One of the best parts of the weekend was meeting so many people who were genuinely delighted to discover REAL DAR members at the festival. We had wonderful conversations about Revolutionary War ancestors, genealogy, our service projects, and the many ways today’s DAR members make a difference in their communities.

Many visitors were surprised to learn just how active and wide-ranging DAR is—and several left wondering whether there might be a Revolutionary War Patriot in their own family tree.

Our “Could You Have a Revolutionary War Patriot?” bookmarks were a popular giveaway at Danville’s Flannel & Foliage Festival!

Created for our joint Acalanes Chapter and Mt. Diablo Chapter, NSDAR table, they gave visitors an easy way to take our contact information home—and perhaps begin discovering a Patriot in their own family tree. 🇺🇸

Thank you, Danville—and Cottage Jewel—for such a warm welcome. We loved sharing a little history, and our amazing organization, with you! 🇺🇸

10/24/2026

🚂 From Rails to Trails! 🌿

Join the Lafayette Historical Society on Wednesday, November 4, for an evening of local history! Sam Sperry will take us back to 1913 and the electric trains that connected our communities, while Shane Reisman shares the new Lafayette-Moraga History Trail and its nine interpretive markers celebrating our shared past.

📅 Wednesday, November 4, 2026
🕖 7:00 p.m.
📍 Don Tatzin Community Hall, Lafayette Library and Learning Center

Admission is free, and donations are welcome. We hope to see you there!

10/22/2026

🗽 Liberty at 140 — A Gift from France

A new Acalanes Chapter, NSDAR exhibit celebrating the 140th anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty is now on display at the Orinda Library.

Dedicated on October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States and has become one of our nation’s most enduring symbols of liberty and freedom.

The exhibit tells the remarkable story of how Lady Liberty was conceived in France, built and transported across the Atlantic, and finally unveiled in New York Harbor. It also explores the enduring friendship between France and the United States, the story behind Emma Lazarus’s The New Colossus, and some surprising details about the Statue’s 1886 dedication.

Pictured with the exhibit are Acalanes Chapter member Vanessa Crews and Orinda librarian Michael Beller.

Come visit Liberty at 140, take a photo with Lady Liberty 🗽, and pick up a free commemorative bookmark to take home!

The exhibit is presented by the Acalanes Chapter, NSDAR, in celebration of America 250. 🇺🇸🇫🇷

10/13/2026

While traveling on a Revolutionary War tour, Acalanes Chapter member Vanessa C. visited two sites honoring Revolutionary War heroine Margaret “Molly” Corbin.

At Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, Vanessa visited the monument honoring Corbin. Although a memorial stands there, Corbin is not buried at Greenwood; her actual burial site remains unknown.

Later, at Fort Tryon Park in New York City, Vanessa visited the monument near the site of the Battle of Fort Washington. On November 16, 1776, after her husband was killed in battle, Corbin took his place at the cannon and continued firing until she was seriously wounded.

In 1779, the Continental Congress recognized her service with a lifetime pension. As a woman, however, Corbin received only half the monthly pay granted to a male soldier.

Nearly 250 years later, Margaret Corbin’s courage and service continue to be remembered. 🇺🇸

10/09/2026

⏰ ONE WEEK LEFT!
What would YOU have done in 1776?
There’s still time to enter the DAR American History Essay Contest!
Local students in grades 5–8 are invited to imagine hearing the Declaration of Independence read for the first time.
🇺🇸 How would you react?
🇺🇸 Who would you tell?
🇺🇸 What would you do?
🇺🇸 How might independence change your life?
Grade 5: 300–600 words
Grades 6–8: 600–1,000 words
📅 ENTRIES DUE OCTOBER 15
Open to public, private and homeschool students.
For complete contest rules and submission information: [email protected]
Please share today—we don’t want an interested student to miss the deadline!

10/02/2026

⏰ LAST CALL FOR YOUNG WRITERS!
There’s still time to step into 1776 and imagine hearing the Declaration of Independence read for the very first time.
The DAR American History Essay Contest is open to local students in grades 5–8—public, private and homeschool.
📅 DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15
One winner from each grade will advance to further DAR competition.
For complete guidelines and submission information: [email protected]
Parents, grandparents, teachers and friends—please share! There may be a young writer in your life who would love this challenge.

09/29/2026

✍️ History is more than memorizing dates.
What if instead of asking a student, “When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?” we asked:
“What would it have been like if YOU were there?”
This year’s DAR American History Essay Contest asks students in grades 5–8 to imagine hearing the Declaration read in their own community in 1776.
How would the news affect their family? Would everyone welcome independence? What risks might it bring? And what would they do next?
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this is a wonderful opportunity for young people to explore history through research, imagination and writing.
📅 Deadline: October 15, 2026
Open to public, private and homeschool students in grades 5–8.
For complete guidelines and submission information: [email protected]
Know a student who loves history or writing? Tag a parent, grandparent or teacher—or share this post!

09/28/2026

Celebrating Constitution Week in Orinda
The Acalanes Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, is celebrating Constitution Week with a special display at the Orinda Library, on view through Sunday, October 4.
Constitution Week is observed each year September 17–23 to commemorate the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, and to encourage Americans to learn more about the document that established the framework of our federal government. The Daughters of the American Revolution initiated Constitution Week in 1955, and the observance became official the following year when Congress adopted the resolution and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law. Daughters of the American Revolution
Our library display extends the celebration a little longer and includes information about the Constitution and its signers, activities for children and students, Constitution booklets to take home, information about our student essay contest, and voter-registration forms.
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, it is an especially meaningful time to revisit the documents and ideas that shaped our nation.
Stop by the Orinda Library before October 4, pick up a Constitution, try one of the activities—and take a few minutes to learn more about “We the People.”

Address

Lafayette, CA
94549

Website

https://acalanes.californiadar.org/

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