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| Please consider joining us at Dumbarton House for the following entertaining, scholarly, fun, or festive public programs, all of which support our educational mission to inform the public about life in Washington during the early days of the Republic (circa 1800) and about Federal Period decorative arts and architecture. For more information about any of our programs please contact Programs@DumbartonHouse.org or 202-337-2288.
If you are ready to register for any Dumbarton House programs, or if you have questions, there are three options:
Note: For partnered events (such as the Balls, dance classes, jazz evenings, etc.), the individual event link may direct you to our partner's site for registration. EVENTS Chamber Music Concert: Beau Soir Ensemble Program:
The Beau Soir Ensemble featuring: Violist Dr. Megan Yanik enjoys a multifaceted career as both a performer and teacher. She has performed with orchestras throughout the United States, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Toledo Symphony and Richmond Symphony. Flutist Haley Bangs, a native of Monument, Colorado, earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. She has performed with the Evansville Philharmonic and the Annapolis Symphony, and is currently a member of one of the premier military bands in Washington D.C. Harpist Michelle Myers Lundy performs throughout the Washington, DC area, having received her Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University. Ms. Lundy is currently principal harpist with the McLean Orchestra and performs with the National Philharmonic Orchestra. For detailed musicians' bios, please visit www.beausoir.org
"Hooray for History!" A Quiz Night Benefit!
Doors will open at 7:30 with the quiz beginning at 8pm, the wine bar open until 9:30pm, and gaming lasting until 10pm. Dress is business casual. For more information, please contact David Madden, at 201 661 3524 or director@historybowl.com. Admission: $50. To pre-purchase tickets as space is limited and reservations are required, reserve your place as soon as you can via PayPal below!
"Swing into the Past!"
Dumbarton House was restored in the late 1920s-early 1930s - the "Swing Era"! -- and opened as a museum in 1932, and as the headquarters of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. We pay homage to swing dancing this evening - popularized at the same time Dumbarton House was being renewed and opening to the public for the first time! Come on your own or invite friends for a summer evening of swing dancing to the sounds of The Tom Cunningham Orchestra! White wines by Tradewinds Specialty Imports, and a selection of sumptuous cupcakes for sale by Georgetown's newest cupcakery, Sprinkles Cupcakes (Red Velvet, Black & White, Salty Caramel, Vanilla Milk Chocolate, Key Lime, Dark chocolate, Vanilla,Vegan Red Velvet, Gluten Red Velvet), will be available for purchase (wines, $6 per glass; $10 for two; cupcakes, $4 each). Tickets are only $12 ($15 at the door), and space is limited! Please note that outside food and drinks are not allowed. Come after work and socialize with members of the social club, The International Club of DC (ICDC).
Tentative Agenda (subject to change) Tickets and Registration Tickets for Non-ICDC Members
Preparing for the Ball: 19th-Century Skills and Etiquette Experience 19th-century skills, etiquette, and dances in this six-class series to prepare you for our second annual Federal period Spring Ball on the evening of March 19, 2011. To attend a ball during the Federal period, attendees needed to know much more than a few dance steps. Learn 19th-century etiquette that still applies today, play popular games such as dice and build card towers, and practice dances that were enjoyed by early America. Participate in one class or all six! Each class $12; Members $10 (sign up for all 4 classes and save $10!). Sign up for any 2 Classes and save $5 off the Spring Ball ticket (March 24, 2012). Contact: Programs@DumbartonHouse.org Check back for eventbrite.com registration - not yet open
"First Day of Spring" Escape the electronic age and slip into the candlelit society similar to that which was enjoyed by Jane Austen. Glide across the floor in spirited country dances, or join "Dolley Madison" at the gaming table. Refresh yourself with a slice of Martha Washington's great cake at the dessert collation. Dance the night away during our second annual Federal period-style Spring Ball. Join the American Ladies, Jackie Geschickter and Pat Sowers, at 7pm for a dance lesson before kicking off the evening at 8pm. The evening includes live music, a dessert buffet (collation!), period gaming, and character re-enactors. Come in period costume or after-five attire to celebrate the beginning of spring! Mrs. Sowers and Ms. Geschickter are independent scholars and accomplished historic dance mistresses. The ladies are dedicated to learning and passing on the lessons of the past. Pat and Jackie have an impressive collective history of dance and etiquette instruction, and each has taught youth etiquette and adult historic dance classes at Dumbarton House, the Headquarters of The Daughters of the American Revolution, Tudor Place, and/or Gunston Hall. Pat is a former schoolteacher, and has taught 18th-century English Country Dancing for the National League of Junior Cotillion's Conventions. Jackie had at long career at National Geographic, and has done extensive research and presented numerous seminars on 18th-century deportment, language, and dance for many historic sites. Tickets: Ball $50; 2+ Classes, $45; Members $40. Check back for eventbrite.com registration - not yet open
Concert/Lecture: A Musical March through History Program sponsored by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the District of Columbia will be presented by the Mount Vernon Brass Ensemble, regarding music from Colonial times through World War II, and will include interesting anecdotal and historical commentary. Free and open to the public. Check back for eventbrite.com registration - not yet open
In partnership with the Dupont-Kalorama Museum Consortium. Free entry at all participating museums! Dumbarton House joins its museum neighbors in this 29th Annual open house event. While proudly situated in residential Georgetown, Dumbarton House often partners with its museum neighbors just over the Dumbarton/Q Street Bridge to the east. Enjoy this great opportunity to see 10 museum gems: Anderson House, Fondo Del Sol Visual Arts Center, General Federation of Women's Clubs, Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, Meridian International Center, The National Museum of American Jewish Military History, The Phillips Collection, The Textile Museum, and the Woodrow Wilson House. Free bus shuttle route to each museum for those less-inclined to walk!
Walking Tour "Mr. Nourse's Georgetown Neighborhood c. 1800" $10 per person (ages 3 and under free). Purchase below. Meet at the corner of Q and 27th Streets, NW
Fee. Check back for eventbrite.com registration - not yet open
Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra Music Concert The Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra brings together musicians from the Boston Philharmonic, Mannes Pre-College faculty, Juilliard Pre-College Division faculty, U.S. Marine Band, former members of the Baton Rouge Symphony, the U.S. Army Band, Indianapolis Symphony and National Symphony section extras, and exceptional New York City and Washington, DC freelance musicians. In addition to their professional accomplishments as orchestral musicians, our members have trained at some of the nation's top schools of music, including Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard, Indiana University, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Eastman, University of Michigan, New England Conservatory, and other noted conservatories. Program TBA Free Admission.
Check back for April 2012 date! The Book Hill neighborhood of Georgetown (Wisconsin Avenue between P Street & Reservoir Road) celebrates spring with grilled merguez, French breads, pastries, kids activities and more! All of your favorite Georgetown shops will have their goods out on the sidewalks with fabulous spring promotions including discounts up to 70%! Join historic Georgetown neighbors Dumbarton House and Tudor Place Historic House & Garden at their FREE family activity table -- in the parking lot of the TD Bank, Wisconsin Ave. & Q St, NW.
This 60-minute walking tour is being led by Dumbarton House volunteer docent and Guild of Professional Tour Guides member Dwane Starlin, as part of Cultural Tourism DC's signature bi-annual event, WalkingTown DC. An established favorite, this celebration of Washington's authentic character and rich historic treasures features free, guided walking tours across the city. These highlight popular neighborhoods such as U Street, Georgetown, and Dupont Circle, as well as areas off the beaten path such as Brookland, Anacostia, and the Southwest Waterfront. WalkingTown, DC is held two days, Saturday and Sunday (but not all tours are held both days). Wear comfortable footgear.FREE but reservations required for this popular annual tour!
DC Preservation League Tour: "Behind the Scenes of Preservation at Dumbarton House" Check back for eventbrite.com registration - not yet open How does the staff at a historic house museum determine how to accurately reflect the house as it was really lived in by its early residents? Explore this answer with the Museum Curator, S. Scott Scholz, as you tour the Museum and learn a "behind the scenes" perspective on the research, preservation, and restoration work of one of Georgetown's historic gems. Bryan Blundell, architectural preservation specialist with Dell Corporation, will also present on his work at Dumbarton House and in the historic house field. Connected to Dumbarton House's current exhibition, "From House to Home: Reinterpreting Dumbarton House," this program will focus on the structure of the house with highlights from the Museum's collection. Fee. $15 for members (DC Preservation League and DH/NSCDA);
Collections Conversations at Historic Dumbarton House, a series of Brown Bag Briefings Please join us for future Conversations, all Wednesdays, 12:30pm:
Among the objects in the Dumbarton House collection are three mourning rings and a beautiful silk needlework image of a grieving family gathered around a tomb. While objects such as these initially point to a culture obsessed with death, further research reveals larger motivations of education, patriotism and style. Sarah Coster is the Director of Carlyle House Historic Park in Alexandria, Virginia. Prior to becoming Director, Sarah was the curator at Carlyle House and over the past nine years has worked at several historic sites and museums in education, exhibit development and collections management positions. Sarah earned her BA in History at Boston University and holds a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies from The George Washington University. Apr 18 Jun 13 Aug 15 Admission to all Conversations is free. Brown bag lunches are welcome. All Conversation programs are held in the Belle Vue Room, on the lower level. Reservations for groups of five or more are requested. Programs@DumbartonHouse.org. For past Conversations topics, click here for Dumbarton House's Featured Object.
Crafty History Crafting and history? Of course! Being "green" was the way of life, and creative reuse especially so. Join Dumbarton House and SCRAP DC in a crafting competition to challenge your creativity and sense of fun. Channel your inner historical figure and "Iron Chef" as you compete (or collaborate) with fellow crafters to use a "secret ingredient" to its maximum potential. Each individual or team will be asked to make two pieces of work using the "secret ingredient". You'll have access to additional "ingredients" and basic tools to supplement your work. Competitors may bring their favorite pair of scissors or any additional tools they'd like to use. Meet other crafters and fans of history as you socialize before and after the timed competition. Prizes awarded for crafts entered for judging. Limit to 30 people. This program is geared towards adults. Refreshments will be available for sale.
Winter Gaming Day for All Ages! Looking for a different way for visiting guests and/or your family to spend a chilly winter morning? Let the American Ladies, Jackie Geschickter and Pat Sowers, serve you a warm drink and cookies at Dumbarton House. Join in the fun as they introduce you to some of the games that fascinated Washington, D.C.'s Founders. Try a hand of Whist, the forerunner of bridge and other card games. Select from a variety of popular past times: marbles, skittles, Shut the Box, dice games, and many more. Mrs. Sowers and Ms. Geschickter are independent scholars and accomplished historic dance mistresses. The ladies are dedicated to learning and passing on the lessons of the past. Pat and Jackie have an impressive collective history of dance and etiquette instruction, and each has taught youth etiquette and adult historic dance classes at Dumbarton House, the Headquarters of The Daughters of the American Revolution, Tudor Place, and/or Gunston Hall. Pat is a former schoolteacher, and has taught 18th-century English Country Dancing for the National League of Junior Cotillion's Conventions. Jackie had at long career at National Geographic, and has done extensive research and presented numerous seminars on 18th-century deportment, language, and dance for many historic sites. Members $8/child; Nonmembers $10/child; Adults $5.
Family Fair in Georgetown!
Members: $8 (per child), Nonmembers: $10 (per child), Adult Chaperones: $5. Register via eventbrite.com below. Check back for eventbrite.com registration - not yet open
War of 1812 Commemoration: Self-guided Themed Tours Saturday & Sunday, August 25 & 26, 2012 11AM - 3PM (last entry at 2:45pm)
Regular admission fee applies.
2011-2012 Season Dates: All Concerts Held on Tuesdays Click here for a pdf of the 2011-2012 Season's listing of individual programs and performers. All concerts are held in the Belle Vue Room, on the lower level. Dumbarton House is fully handicapped accessible. Groups are welcome! Reservations for groups of five or more are requested. Free and open to the public but reservations are suggested. Register via eventbrite.com by clicking on the date above.
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The Dumbarton House, museum and headquarters of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America, and 
Join us in the Belle Vue Room ballroom and lower courtyard terrace at Dumbarton House for our first-ever evening devoted to the Swing style of dancing. So, bring your favorite swing style -- Jitterbug, arguably the "original swing," East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Balboa, and Shag – for a fun evening of 20th-century dance.
The Museum will not be open during this evening event, but event registrants may ask for a voucher at check-in to return for a tour Tue-Sun, 11am-3pm, year-round!
Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk
Check back for 2012 Spring and Fall Dates!
Feb 15 
Mark the end of summer with sweets, games and crafts at two of Georgetown's most historic houses, Dumbarton House and Tudor Place! 
Washington in flames could be seen as far away as Baltimore on August 24, 1814. Honor the anniversary of Dolley Madison's flight, first to "Belle Vue" (today known as Dumbarton House), as the British advanced on Washington. Learn about the capital city during the War of 1812. After touring the museum, enjoy a sampling of "Dolley Cake," Mrs. Madison's favorite, a delicious caramel confection - while supplies last!
Chamber Music Concert Series