Celebrate Women's History Month at These Historic Sites
(Washington, D.C.) — Throughout history, wars have transformed the lives of women, introducing them to new roles in the military, business, medicine, farming, and in family. In recognition of the diverse roles that women have played in our history, the American Battlefield Trust recommends these events to celebrate Women’s History Month – a particularly meaningful commemoration, since 2020 marks the centennial of ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote.
March 1, 2020: A Woman’s War, Ninety Six, S.C.
This new Women’s History Month event at Ninety Six National Historic Site will explore how women survived, how they shaped the creation of our nation, and how women served their country. Learn more.
March 1, 2020: The Rosie the Riveter Memorial – A Closer Look, Richmond, Calif.
Drop by Marina Bay Park and visit the Rosie the Riveter Memorial — a thoughtful public art sculpture paying tribute to the women who worked on the home front during WWII. A docent will be available to introduce the memorial and help explore questions during the drop-in hour. Learn more.
March 1-29: Ranger Program: “Ring It Again! The Women’s Liberty Bell”, Philadelphia, Pa.
Find out how women in Pennsylvania forged a new symbol for the women’s suffrage movement using their own “Liberty Bell” in this brief ranger talk at Independence National Historical Park. Learn more.
March 1-29, 2020: Civil Warriors to Suffragettes, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Join Stones River National Battlefield every Saturday and Sunday in March celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution by exploring the connections between the changing roles of women during the Civil War and the movement to secure women’s right to vote. Learn more.
March 7, 2020: Shipbuilding Women of the Navy, Boston, Mass.
More than 8,000 women lent a hand in the war effort at the Charlestown Navy Yard during World War II. Join Boston National Historical Park to discover their role, accomplishments and the personal memories. Learn more.
March 7-28: Proprietress, Patriot, Nurse, and Spy: The Unconventional Women of Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Md.
Join a Fort McHenry National Monument ranger in exploring the lives and lesser-known tales of the unconventional women who shaped the fort’s history throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. During the program, visitors will learn more about Mary Young Pickersgill, maker of the famous Star-Spangled Banner, nurses stationed at Fort McHenry’s General Hospital No. 2 during World War I and many more. Learn more.
March 7-28: Women’s History Programs, Fort Scott, Kans.
Women’s history programs are offered each Saturday in March to commemorate Women’s History Month and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Learn More.
March 7-28: Film Series and Discussion, Walla Walla, Wash.
Whitman Mission National Historic Site invites you to explore westward expansion through a series of four, 30-minute films used at National Park Service sites. Films will be shown every Saturday in March followed by a discussion led by a ranger. Learn more.
March 8, 2020: Worldwide Women, Philadelphia, Pa.
Join an Independence National Historical Park ranger as they present stories of women from around the world on International Women’s Day. Learn more.
March 11: Independence Lost: Lives on the Edge of the American Revolution, Greensboro, N.C.
Kathleen DuVal is Bowman & Gordon Gray Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In “Independence Lost,” she recounts an untold story of as rich and significant as that of the Founding Fathers: the history of the Revolutionary Era as experienced by slaves, American Indians, women and British loyalists living on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Learn more.
March 14, 2020: A Revolution of Her Own: Deborah Sampson’s Revolutionary War, Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Commemoration of Women’s History Month, featuring a dramatic, living history presentation by a re-enactor portraying the inspiring story of Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man and fought credibly for the American army in the Revolutionary War, including service in Westchester County. Learn more.
March 15, 2020: The Women’s Rights Movement During Reconstruction, St. Louis, Mo.
Many Americans remember the women who led the successful movement for voting rights in the 20th century, culminating with the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920. Far less-known, however, are the women who started this movement in the 19th century and encountered many setbacks in the fight for equal rights. In this 40-minute program, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site ranger Nick Sacco will highlight the Women’s Rights Movement after the Civil War. Learn more.
March 28, 2020: Sewing for Soldiers: Quilting on the Home Front, Frederick, Md.
Join Monocacy National Battlefield rangers and volunteers to explore quilting during the Civil War and try your hand at sewing a square. During the Civil War, women frequently supported the war effort through sewing or knitting. Quilts were an effective way to recycle materials during wartime shortages. Quilts could be sent to a loved one or donated to the U.S. Sanitary Commission. Learn more.
March 29, 2020: Tour of Monmouth Battlefield Featuring Possible Sites of Molly Pitcher’s Well, Manalapan, N.J.
Molly Pitcher’s story is well-known to anyone who’s studied the American Revolution, and like any legend, some of its details are still in question. What was the source of the water she brought to parched troops during the hot summer battle? Drive to the heart of the Monmouth Battlefield State Park to visit the different spots that have been claimed to be the location of Molly’s well. Learn more.
For more travel ideas, check the National Park Service events calendar at findyourpark.com, visit a state park website, search for museums and historic sites near you, or visit the American Battlefield Trust’s events calendar.
The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. To date, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 50,000 acres of battlefield land associated with the American Revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.
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