DAR presents a check to the Museum of Appalachia to help with the Peter's Homestead Roof Preservation and Restoration Project. Left to Right: Susan Thomas, State Regent, Tennessee Society DAR; Elaine Meyer, President, Museum of Appalachia; Daryl Fansler, Board Chairman, Museum of Appalachia. Image courtesy of the Museum.

KNOXVILLE – The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is awarding a grant to the Museum of Appalachia to aid with the Peter’s Homestead Roof Preservation and Restoration Project. Funding for this project was made possible through the sponsorship of the Tennessee Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, located in Monteagle, Tennessee.

The Museum of Appalachia is situated on 65+ scenic acres in Norris, Tennessee and is home to a pioneer village and farm of over thirty log cabins and structures. The village includes a school, church, barns, a variety of utility structures such as a blacksmith shop, broom shop and leather shop, and a selection of settler’s homes, including the Peter's Homestead. This living history museum houses the most extensive collection of its kind, preserving many unique and extraordinary items, along with the stories of the people who built or crafted them. Along with the size of this collection, comes the immense task and responsibility of preserving it for future generations.

Elaine Irwin Meyer, President of the Museum of Appalachia, said, “We are honored to be chosen to receive this generous donation from the DAR; ours is just one of the many fine causes they fund throughout the year to help preserve our nation’s history. We are truly thankful for the help to replace the roof on the Peter’s Homestead, preserving the structure in a historically accurate way for future generations, and continuing our mission to preserve the Appalachian Heritage.”

The DAR grants program was started in 2010. Funding is awarded to support projects in local communities which promote the organization’s mission areas of historic preservation, education and patriotism.

The DAR receives hundreds of grant applications each year, making competition high for the funding through the non-profit organization. Interested groups must be sponsored by a local DAR chapter, submit a copy of their public charity 501(c)(3) IRS documentation, and include a narrative describing the need and urgency of the project as well as planned activities and benefits to the community which will result from the grant.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation’s children. Its members are descended from patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With 178,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org; or to learn about applying for a Special Projects Grant from DAR, visit www.DAR.org/grants.

Museum guests on tour can see the work in progress at 2819 Andersonville Hwy, Clinton, TN, 37716, conveniently located just off Interstate 75, at Exit 122. You may also visit www.museumofappalachia.org.