Exhibit shares Revolution stories in participants’ own words

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - A new exhibit at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) museum showcases diaries, letters and journals from the Revolutionary War, offering perspectives beyond the Founding Fathers as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial.

“Revolution in their words” displays artifacts and documents from the DAR’s collection, some shown publicly for the first time. The exhibit opened ahead of America’s 250th birthday celebrations.

“We always hear about the Founding Fathers, the military heroes. But I wanted to hear about and explain the people who lived through this tumultuous time and how they felt about the war and how it impacted their home life,” said Carrie Blough, curator and registrar at the DAR Museum.

The collection includes writings from people on the sidelines of the war and those caught in the crossfire, not just military leaders.

“One of the things that really stood out to me was that there is not just one view of the American Revolution from the people who experienced it. They all had different feelings about it,” Blough said.

The exhibit features perspectives from those who opposed the war and those who supported it.

“During the celebrations for America 250, we want to find a little bit of ourselves in some of these exhibitions, events that are going on throughout the country,” Blough said.

The DAR museum is located near the National Mall and the White House in Washington.

“I hope people will find something about themselves in this exhibit,” Blough said.

“Revolution in Their Words” will be open through March 27, 2027.