Caymus Chapter, NSDAR
Calistoga, California
Welcome
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR) is a non-profit, non-political volunteer service organization comprising over 190,000 members across 3,000 chapters worldwide. Established on October 11, 1890, to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism, the NSDAR has welcomed more than one million members into its organization since its inception.
The Caymus Chapter was officially organized on April 15, 1972, in Calistoga, California, by 15 charter members under the leadership of Organizing Regent Lois Brown Enholm and Installing Officer Mrs. Frank Emilio La Causa. Our chapter’s deep connection to the local community spans generations, with Daughters of our founding members actively participating today. We convene monthly from January through May and September through December.
Discover your connection to American history and make a lasting impact in the Napa Valley! Our members represent a rich tapestry of heritage—tracing lineages across Indigenous Peoples, English, Dutch, French, Spanish, Mexican, Italian, Irish, Swiss, and German ancestry, among others. Whether you want to honor a Revolutionary War patriot or simply explore what membership has to offer, we invite you to reach out. For member privacy and security, meeting details are provided upon contact.
Today’s DAR
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About Us
The Caymus Name
Our chapter selected the name Caymus to reflect the rich historical heritage of the region. Long before the Napa Valley gained global recognition for its viticulture, it was the ancestral homeland of the Wappo people. The Caymus were a distinct Indigenous group of the Wappo nation who resided along the valley floor, oak woodlands, and surrounding mountain ranges.
In the 1830s, North Carolina native George Yount became the first Euro-American settler in the Napa Valley. In 1836, General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo granted Yount an 11,887-acre Mexican land grant designated as Rancho Caymus—named in honor of the area’s original stewards. Yount subsequently constructed a log blockhouse and gristmill, establishing the permanent settlement that laid the groundwork for modern Calistoga and the upper Napa Valley.
By bearing the Caymus name, our chapter honors the enduring history, natural heritage, and cultural legacy of our region.