DAR Announces American History Essay Contest

Signal Hill Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, based in Barrington, IL, announces the 2026-2027 American History Essay Contest that is open to children in grades 5-8.

This year’s contest asks participants to write their 300-to-1,000-word essay (depending on grade level) on the following:

To announce independence from Great Britain, the Declaration of Independence was publicly read in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. Following this reading, the word spread throughout the colonies in newspapers, more public readings, and posted notices!

• Imagine you lived in Philadelphia or an area of the colonies where news did not reach you for weeks.
• How would you react to hearing the Declaration read in your community?
• With whom would you share the news?
• What action would you take after hearing it?
• How would this have impacted your life?

One essay for each grade level will be selected as the chapter winner. Winners will be recognized at DAR’s Youth Awards Day on Sunday, February 7, 2027.

To participate and receive required forms, contact:

Julia Fenstermacher, Signal Hill Historian at HistoryEssayContest@gmail.com

The Signal Hill Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) was founded in Barrington, IL in 1972. NSDAR is a volunteer women’s service organization and lineage society headquartered in Washington, DC. Since its founding in 1890 over one million women have joined both nationally and around the world.

The local Barrington Chapter raises funds throughout the year and distributes them to 501 (c) (3) organizations whose missions support that of NSDAR: historic preservation, education, conservation, and patriotism. Membership in NSDAR is open to any woman aged 18 and over who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. For more information about the chapter, visit signalhilldar.com.