Minnesota State Visit

It was a true joy to finally visit the vibrant Minnesota Daughters after my postponed trip last fall. I was warmly welcomed and cherished the time spent with members—sharing meaningful moments of history and heartfelt hospitality. Your commitment to DAR’s mission shines brightly in the North Star State. My heartfelt thanks to State Regent Carolyn Loeffler and her daughter, Lauren Loeffler, who served as my Page. A true full-circle moment for me, as I have the fondest memories of Carolyn and myself paging together so long ago. Thank you both for the exceptional kindness and care throughout my visit.

-Pamela Wright, President General 

Minnesota Daughters were disappointed when illness prevented the President General’s scheduled visit in October 2024. So, it was a particular pleasure to welcome her to the North Star State for a brief visit in June.

We began with a visit to the Sibley Historic Site, whose four brick and limestone buildings, among the oldest still standing in the state. The Sibley home, known as the “Mount Vernon of Minnesota,” was built in 1835 and is the home of Minnesota’s first state governor. The home was purchased by the Minnesota Daughters of the American Revolution in 1910. The DAR eventually acquired the other buildings on the site and ran a teahouse on site to fund restoration efforts. The Minnesota State Society sold the building to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1997 and it is now managed by the Dakota County Historical Society. Museum exhibits include a tribute the MNSSDAR and its stewardship of the site. 

A tradition of this administration has been to take visiting national guests to the Black Forest Inn, a German restaurant locally known for the larger-than-life print of Richard Avedon’s “Generals of the Daughters of the American Revolution.” The photo was a gift from the artist to the restaurant owners after a local exhibition in 1970, and it took on local fame after a bar patron shot at it in 1986. The photo, now sporting two bullet holes, still hangs in the restaurant. The owner’s daughter was working at the restaurant that evening and was delighted to meet the current President General.