On Monday, August 3, 2015, WVSSAR Registrar Raymond M Kane Jr drove to NSSAR National Headquarters located in Louisville, Kentucky and wanted to share his experience while there for those Compatriots who haven’t had the opportunity to visit the NSSAR National Headquarters.
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution National Headquarters building is located at 809 W. Main Street in the historic old town section of Louisville, Kentucky. The two story brick, frame and steel construction building is a grand and dignified structure, befitting of a quality museum and is perfect for the national headquarters of the NSSAR.
Directly across from the NSSAR Headquarters is located the H & B Louisville Slugger store, with a huge baseball bat prominently displayed outside their building.
As you enter the NSSAR Headquarters building, you first come to the main lobby area with its large reception desk. You can look upwards from the lobby and see the second floor level of the SAR Genealogical Research Library.
The main NSSAR Headquarters offices and the Genealogy Department are also located on the second floor of the large SAR building. From the lobby area of the NSSAR Headquarters offices on the second floor, you can view, through the large picture pane glass windows, the large 1st floor area currently being used as a conference area.
The SAR Genealogical Research Library is located behind the main NSSAR Headquarters entrance lobby. The SAR Genealogical Research Library is located on both the first and second floors and contains a large collection of genealogical, historical reference materials and exhibits. The library is open to both SAR members and the general public.
The Library Director is Compatriot Michael Christian, who oversees the operations of the library and assists Compatriots and the general public with their general research inquiries.
At the time of my visit, the library was displaying the SAR Congress Badges Exhibit and the Lunar Bible Exhibit, along with other antiques and exhibits.
The NSSAR Merchandise Store is located on the basement floor level of the building. The store is large and well stocked. You can shop in person at the store and you can also shop at the NSSAR Online Merchandise Store, available at http://store.sar.org/
If you have the opportunity, you should visit our NSSAR Headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, as the trip is well worth your time and effort. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful; there are interesting exhibits, paintings and artifacts to see; and you could easily spend multiple days researching in the SAR Genealogical Research Library. The NSSAR has more building improvements planned for the future.