After centuries of learning about history, we now recognize the importance of HERstory!
March is National Women’s History Month, which grew from a single day (March 8) in 1910: International Women’s Day. Initially set aside as a way to protest child labor and sweatshop working conditions and demand women’s suffrage, a month-long observance was established by Congress in 1987.
National Women's History Month is now dedicated to celebrating and honoring women's accomplishments, contributions, and history. It serves as an opportunity to recognize the achievements of women in various fields, including science, politics, arts, education, business, and more.
During March, various events, programs, and initiatives nationwide honor women's achievements, raise awareness about women's history, and foster discussions about issues related to gender equality. The month provides a platform to highlight the accomplishments of women who have significantly impacted society and inspire future generations to pursue their goals and dreams.
We’ve rounded up some ways the DMV celebrates women's history and progress during Women’s History Month – and, in many cases, year-round.
Check out the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
NMWA advocates for better representation of women artists and serves as a center for thought leadership, community engagement, and social change. Their collections feature more than 5,500 works from the 16th century to today.
On Friday, March 8, the NMWA celebrates International Women’s Day with virtual and in-person programs, including yoga, gallery talks, and keynote speaker Ferren Gipson, author of Women’s Work: From Feminine Arts to Feminist Art.
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Ave. NW
Washington, D.C.
(Virtually) Visit the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
Although not yet a physical building, Congress signed legislation to create the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on December 27th, 2020, making the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum a new entity. For now, the museum is a digital treasure trove of collection highlights and stories related to women and girls.
The museum’s headline program for Women’s History Month will be “Becoming Visible,” an interactive digital exhibition launching on March 8. Curators will narrate five remarkable stories of women from the past alongside an introduction narrated by Rosario Dawson, actress, designer, and producer who also serves on the museum's advisory council.
See Tempestuous Elements.
Feb. 16 - Mar. 17
Arena Stage features Tempestuous Elements, the struggle of Education luminary Anna Julia Cooper as she fights for her students’ rights to an advanced curriculum. Witness the journey of this formidable Black feminist’s fight for educational equity, freedom, and legitimacy at the turn of the 20th century.
Arena Stage
1101 Sixth St. SW
Washington, D.C.
Learn about Clara Barton.
You can learn about the founder of the American Red Cross by visiting the house where Clara Barton lived from 1897 until she died in 1912. Located in Glen Echo, Md., the structure was initially used as the American Red Cross warehouse. It was later remodeled to serve as the organization's headquarters and Clara Barton's home. It has three stories and 30 rooms, a basement that housed disaster supplies for victims of war and natural disasters, official Red Cross papers, and Barton's personal belongings. The house is located seven miles from Washington, D.C., on a bluff overlooking the Potomac River.
Clara Barton National Historic Site
5801 Oxford Road
Glen Echo, Md.
Commune in the spirit of Rachel Carson.
Renowned environmentalist and biologist Rachel Carson (1907 - 1964) spent most of her adult life in Montgomery County, Md. Her most famous book, “Silent Spring,” recounts the devastating impacts of the pesticide DDT and is largely credited with changing how Americans think about the natural world. Rachel Carson Conservation Park is a 650-acre park dedicated to environmental preservation, providing opportunities to enjoy the natural environment. The park contains more than six miles of natural surface trails for hiking and equestrian use and is one of Montgomery County's premier conservation areas.
Rachel Carson Conservation Park
22201 Zion Road
Brookeville, MD.
Visit the home of the mother of the father of our nation.
Mary Ball Washington, the mother of George Washington, was an intrepid 18th-century woman who raised five children alone. The oldest became the first president of the United States. George Washington paid his last visit to his mother at the house in Fredericksburg in April 1789, en route to New York for his inauguration. You can visit the Mary Washington House in the Fredericksburg Historic District in Fredericksburg, Va.
Mary Washington House
1200 Charles St.
Fredericksburg, VA.
