Continental Congress Treasure Hunt: Memorial Portico

Can you imagine our beautiful Memorial Continental Hall without its portico and columns?  It’s hard to do that, but at one time, those beautiful columns were not there.  

          Members had been called upon to raise money to construct our beautiful building.  Members made pledges, states held various fund raisers to raise the money and chapters even saved a penny a day for a year to help raise the money.  Other parts of the building were given naming rights.  Some of the larger states purchased entire rooms while smaller states purchased windows or doors.  By the first Continental Congress $650 had been raised and would grow to $109,000 by 1902.   In 1906, a debt of $300,000 was still upon the society, and the call to chapters for their continued fund raising efforts was insistent.  In 1908, Continental Hall was bonded for a sum of sufficient to complete the building allowing chapters to return to the work of their state.

          While the planning, selection of site and architect, and construction of Memorial Continental Hall was taking place in Washington, plans to place a monument on the State House grounds for the Revolutionary Generals of South Carolina were at work in South Carolina by the SCDAR.  When the call for funds to build Memorial Continental Hall went out, SCDAR stopped raising funds for the monument and began raising funds for DAR’s home.

Part of the design of the building was to dedicate thirteen columns on the portico in honor of the thirteen original states.  These monolithic columns have the name of the original state carved into its base as well as a beautiful design, but each of the thirteen original states had to pledge and then raise $2000 to pay for their column.

          By 1907, SCDAR State Regent Virginia Bratton was able to report at Continental Congress that SCDAR had raised $1,095 for its column.  At the dedication ceremony for the Memorial Portico in 1908, Bratton had the pleasure of announcing to those in attendance that SCDAR’s column was not a pledge but a reality.  As a result of being the first state to accomplish the actual payment of $2000 for its respective column, Bratton was accorded the honor of carrying the Palmetto Flag at the head of the procession with President General McLean.

          The result of each of the thirteen original states’ efforts is a beautiful portico that connects to the O’Byrne Gallery.  This combination of spaces provides the city with an elegant venue suitable for a variety of occasions including meetings, receptions, and weddings.  The portico’s resemblance to the White House also makes it a desirable location for shooting feature films and television series such as National Treasure and West Wing.

          Enjoy looking at Memorial Portico in a new light during Continental Congress.  SCDAR members, see if you can find the South Carolina column.  Be sure to pay attention to the portico’s grandeur and architectural details from top to bottom that make it so spectacular.   There is more to see out there than first meets the eye now that you know. 

      Also, take the time to view the intricate architectural details of the O’Byrne Gallery.  This is worth the time to see.  Did you know that this was the first location for the Museum?  That’s an entire story for another time.

HAPPY HUNTING!