Historic Preservation
“Illinois Daughters' historical
preservation
activities include contributing historical records and identifying and
marking historic sites."
Educational
“The Illinois DAR offers
scholarships, sponsors
contests, assists schools, give patriotic programs, and volunteers in
many ways to promote literacy."
Patriotism
“Illinois Daughters distribute
thousands of
flags, flag codes, and other patriotic literature each year.
We
support our troops and visit veterans."
Historical PreservationLincoln Circuit Markers  One project
undertaken by Illinois DAR members was the
identification of several Lincoln Circuit Markers.
There were 19 markers originally placed throughout the
Eighth
Judicial Circuit where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. The
original
markers were erected in 1922 and 1923 and many were damaged or missing.
Locating the markers played a key role in celebrating the
200th
birthday of Abraham Lincoln's birth.Restoration of George Rogers Clark Monument  The statue of
General George Rogers Clark at Fort Massac State Park
in Metropolis, Illinois, was badly in need of refurbishing. It
was
especially important for the General to look good as the park's 100th
birthday was to be held in November 2008. The Illinois
Organization Daughters of the American Revolution stepped in
to help by raising funds to
refurbish the statue. In 1908 the
DAR purchased 24
acres surrounding the site and Fort Massac was
officially dedicated as Illinois' first state park. Liberty Benches  Liberty
benches were placed at seven historic
locations throughout Illinois. They are located at: Ulysses S. Grant
home in Galena, Ill.; Decatur, Ill.; the historic
train
station in Flora, Ill.; Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis;
in Blackhawk State Park, Moline,
Ill.; the historic Graue Mill & Museum in Oak Brook, Ill.; and
in Courthouse Square in Hillsboro, IllMadonna of the Trail  The
Daughters of the American Revolution originally placed 12 Madonna of
the Trail monuments along the old National Road.
They feature
a pioneer woman clasping her baby, with her young son clinging to her
skirts. This monument in Vandalia, Illinois, sits on a corner
across from the former Illinois State House. The eighth
Madonna of
the Trail monument erected, the Illinois monument was
originally
dedicated on October 26, 1928. The Illinois DAR refurbished
the Madonna monument and it was rededicated in 2005Illinois Room, DAR Museum  The
Illinois room is one of 31 state-sponsored period rooms in the DAR
Museum in Washington, D.C. It represents a 1840s “best”
bedchamber in a wealthy household where the husband and wife slept. The
best bedchamber was not just a place for sleeping, as women spent much
time in the bedchamber birthing, nursing and caring for children.
Therefore the best bedchamber was set up in the most comfortable manner
with tables and chairs for doing work and socializing. You
can
view all of the period rooms here.National Patriots Bell Tower and
Carillon
 The
DAR erected a memorial bell tower at the Washington Memorial
Chapel in the heart of the Valley Forge National Park. The tower houses
a carillon of 80 bells, one of which was purchased by the Illinois DAR.
Dedications and memorial plaques honoring America's military
cover the interior of the tower. Statue Honoring Women Veterans  In
June 2011, this statue was dedicated to honor all women veterans. The
statue depicts two women: Molly Pitcher, the woman who fought beside
her husband during the Revolutionary War, and Major Tammy
Duckworth, an Army helicopter pilot whose aircraft was struck by enemy
fire, resulting in the loss of her legs. The statue is located on
the grounds of the Brehm Memorial Library in Mt. Vernon, Illinois,
where the Illinois DAR houses its extensive genealogy library.Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR,
the state organization, or individual DAR chapters. |