Great American Treasures

Since 1891, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America has promoted our national heritage through preservation, patriotic service, and educational projects. NSCDA is the leading historical preservation organization in the United States.

In June 2020, NSCDA launched the Great American Treasres.org website after years of planning and countless hours of creation. The national website connects Dames and history buffs to the 60-plus historical sites all across America. These historical properties tell the incredible stories of how America became America.

The GAT website showcases historical properties and suggests driving tours to connect travelers to the 60 property treasures. The sites include various structures: schools, churches, plantations, offices, log cabins, adobe buildings, Indian agencies, French colonial houses, hotels, homes, museums, monuments, memorials, and artifacts preserved from the time periods 1534 to 1920.

When you explore the GAT website properties further, you will meet people in their natural surroundings who made indelible contributions to the world. They are – heroes and heroines, scoundrels, pioneers and patriots – people who make up the American story.

Website portals will allow you to search by curated collection and physical location. Links will provide details about houses or museums, the type of architecture, furnishings, gardens, and group tour suitability. Other interesting cultural sites to visit near the historical site are identified. Nathan Jones, director of the Craik-Patton House, has prepared a tutorial to help you use the GAT website.

HISTORICAL PERIODS
The Colonial Continent (1539-1844); Homes for a Nation (1770-1865); Greek Revival Everywhere (1796-1871); West Across the Continent (1804-1904); History On The Spot (Memorials, Monuments, Galleries) (1534-1898)

The new GAT website was funded through generous donations from Dames and supporters all across America as part of the NSCDA’s $10 million Comprehensive Campaign. To date, Dames have raised over $8.5 million towards the campaign goal.

So let’s get started! Explore by first going to the Craik-Patton House pages on GAT.

1. Typeset GreatAmericanTreasures.org in your browser window. (or click here.)
2. Then click “Great American Treasures/Historic American Sites.”
3. Next click ”Destinations.”
4. Scroll down to row 8 under the title “Explore All of the Great American Treasures.”
5. In Row 8 of featured houses, click the Craik-Patton House icon.
6. Then, scroll down to the title: “Most historic houses have one famous owner. This isn’t most houses.”

Enjoy the Craik-Patton story.

Your Great American Treasures website is a work in progress. You will learn about our history from stories about the real life people connected to the sites. Plan a family trip with your children or grandchildren, enjoy these great treasures that preserve the story of America.

Click to view historic sites poster.

Dames are Entrusted with History’s Future and we want to inspire a new generation of Americans to be interested in history! NSCDA and all state societies have a voice in the 21st Century. We stand on the work of past Dames – from the Founding Mothers to the present, as we build new programs to carry out our mission.