richards-dar house museum

Our DAR guides, Sheila and MR, brought the history of this home alive. The architecture and furnishings are impressive. An added bonus was the tea and cookies served at the end of the tour.

Our tour of the Richards house was lead by two gracious and knowledgeable DAR members. We were treated to a personal tour of this incredible Italianate home in the heart of Mobile. The home has a collection of period furniture and household items that are either original to the home (eg:piano) or of the period. The docents were extremely knowledgeable and took their time to show is the entire house even though it was getting late on a Sunday. In fact, we called ahead from the visitors center outside of town and they waited for us even though it was the end of the day. Don't miss this tour, it is great. A little plus is tea and cookies and a small gift shop.

This beautiful old Home feels just like that,. a home , not a museum. It was decorated very beautiful for Christmas . The guides were very know friendly and really seemed to enjoy what they were doing and they took us around the Museum.

I can not praise enough this place, which I have visited today for the first time in my life. It is a little bit of the beaten path, however, being few blocks (and a short walk) away from very core of downtown Mobile. Both Barbara and Kathryn shared a sea of knowledge about this place with me. I was simply overwhelmed (in a very good way). Their narrative was not just on the house and various interesting artifacts there, but had put this place in a broader perspective of Mobile, South and American history. As I was a foreigner visiting from overseas, my visit just went on and on, as southern hospitality and display of an expertise was in full force. I can not recommend this place strongly enough. They are open until 3:30 pm, but one would like to arrive in advance to have a tour.

The house tour was amazing. We have visited old houses befor but this time you can touch and feel and seat and get deep explanations from the amazing sisters keeping the house. Worth 2-3 hr walk in the 10000sq feet house and garden. The tea ant the end was marvelous!

Our tour guides explained a lot about the house and the history in the 1860 era. The tour was interesting but a little longer than expected.

The DAR tour guides are excellent. This is an exquisite home built in 1837 and very well preserved. Many weddings and receptions are held here.

We enjoyed our tour of this historic and lovely house. Learned a lot about Texan life. Recommend it to others.

This tour is by far the best we have ever experienced of any historical home. The house itself was fascinating enough itself, beautifully restored with great care for accuracy of detail. But what made the visit special was the narrative provided by the gracious host of the tour. Our guide was Barb, and she gave us an in-depth perspective on both form and function of every detail – from the architecture and engineering of the building down to the everyday use of every piece of the furnishings. She knew and understood how the family that had built the home lived, and how they used every aspect of the dwelling and its contents.To say the tour was educational is an understatement. Barb displayed knowledge of family life in the dwelling in the time of its builder – a 19th century sea captain – that would shame a college professor of history. It was truly a trip back in time. If you are a history buff, this is a definite “must” when visiting Mobile.

The house was built in 1850 and is beautiful inside but when the DAR got it, it was bare inside. They got period furniture non after 1870 from members, families of the previous owners, the city museum and others. The tour guide had many great stories to tell.

Unfortunately, we arrived too late to take a tour of this home, but the outside of the home is breathtaking with the cast-iron fence and posts at the front of the home The side view of the home shows that it is a much bigger home from what you see from the street. Will be back on our next trip here.

This was the best tour I've ever taken in a historic home. The DAR volunteers who conducted the tour were so knowledgeable and told us stories about what life was like back then as well as commenting on the furnishings in the house. As a DAR member myself, I am interested in genealogy so it was fun to talk about ancestors with the docents. The house is beautiful and I could easily imagine living there. Thank you for such a great experience!

We visited the Richards_DAR House on 12/6/14. The house was all decorated for Christmas with Christmas trees throughout the house each decorated with a different theme. The DAR members who acted as gracious guides were dressed in period dresses looking every bit the southern ladies you would expect in this home. As we entered the foyer a member was playing carols on a piano original to the house which was built in 1860. We were next treated to spiced tea and cookies in the dining room. While enjoying these treats members of the Pride of Mobile Barbershop Chorus serenaded us with carols and their harmony. The furnishings of the house are all beautiful. If you enjoy seeing the homes of this period, this is a must see.

How wonderful to visit a historic home where you are encouraged to touch items and sit on the furniture! The women of the DAR are excellent caretakers of this beautiful property and their narration enriches the experience. A short walk from Dauphin Street.

Just before leaving Mobile, we experienced a wonderful tour of the beautiful Richards-DAR House. Our docent Barbara Preston was a true curator. She presented a wealth of fascinating information regarding the mansion, its owners, and the multitude of antiques it contains. Extending Southern hospitality, Ms. Preston concluded her tour by offering us spice tea and cookies. Our only regret was we had to catch a plane and couldn’t linger in the lovely garden.