Women’s history is largely missing from our national story – even today, little is in history textbooks, school curricula, national parks or museums. Polling results confirm that two-thirds of the American people think our nation should have a National Women’s History Museum. They also affirm it should reside on the National Mall alongside our other national Museums.
NWHM President & CEO Joan Wages said, “We believe the more people learn about the full contribution women have made in all areas of life; personal and professional, as innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, pioneers in industry and professions as well as in the home and family, that society overall will benefit. Individuals once hearing about the many contributions women have made and are making to America, are surprised at what they don’t know. Women’s contributions to the building of our nation, from the very start, deserve their place on the Mall where we as a nation show what we honor. We are pleased the public agrees.”
Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced legislation that would create a commission to identify a permanent home for the Museum on or close to the National Mall. The commission will be privately funded. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) are introducing the companion Senate bill. The survey and the introduction of legislation will be announced this evening at a congressional reception being held to honor the new women members of Congress and the Senate.
Founded in 1996, The National Women’s History Museum is a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the diverse historic contributions of women and integrating this rich heritage fully into our nation’s history, currently located online at www.nwhm.org. Legislation is underway to purchase federally owned land on which to build the National Women’s History Museum.
