The Allapattah Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR), is located in Sarasota, Florida, on the west central coast of Sarasota County.

In pursuing the goals of our National Society, the Allapattah Chapter, NSDAR, has touched many lives in our community, our military, and our veterans. We present DAR Good Citizens Award, Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (JROTC) and American History Essay Contest awards to students in our local schools. We support veterans at Bay Pines Veterans Hospital in St. Petersburg and two assisted living facilities with many veterans in Sarasota.

The chapter was organized on November 20, 1964, with the Organizing Regent Mrs. Harry D. Alber. The chapter was first formed in Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida. Members called upon the assistance of Mr. Crowley, a County Conservation Officer, and Mr. Fales, an archaeologist, to suggest a name for the chapter. A previous discovery by Mr. Fales disclosed that Native Americans had inhabited this area in earlier years and perhaps a Native American name should be considered. The Native Americans knew a special creature very well – it was the alligator that is still in existence today. They called this alligator “Allapattah” and the members liked the musical sound of the name and selected it as the name for our chapter.

The chapter meets one Friday of the month from October to May. We service Sarasota County, and currently have 37 members.

The chapter is involved in a number of projects and activities. These include support for Crossnore DAR School, donating to the local Red Cross, baking and selling cookies for our annual “Cookie Walk”. Stuffing stockings at Christmas and Easter Baskets at Easter for veterans and assisted living facilities, participating in an annual craft fair, and supporting Wreaths Across America are holiday events that we particularly enjoy. We participate in Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day parades, library displays for Constitution Week, and celebrate with the Manasota Regents’ Council for Constitution Week, George Washington’s Birthday and Flag Day.

Photos Courtesy of Chapter Members