Without the diligent work of a History Associates archivist, we may have never discovered the commemorative pen given to Dr. Dorothy Height when President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. Discover how the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site led to an inspiring national park moment that honors Women’s History Month!
Susan Picotte was the first Native American woman to practice medicine in the United States. She’s honored at the Picotte Memorial Hospital in Nebraska.
Claire Marie Hodges was the first fully commissioned female park ranger and spent 30 years at Yosemite National Park. Read More
Born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1864, Maggie Lena Walker grew up knowing firsthand the difficulties of life in the post-Civil War South. Walker was raised by her mother, a former slave, and at a young age, she developed an interest in improving life for African Americans and women. She joined the local council of the Independent Order of St. Luke as a teenager, and went on to serve on the board of trustees for the National Association of Colored Women and the Virginia Industrial School for Girls. In 1902, Walker founded the St. Luke Herald, and she established the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank the following year, making her the first African American woman to charter a bank in the United States. Read More
As we celebrate Women’s History Month this March, the National Park Foundation is proud to commemorate some of our nation’s most remarkable women. These historic sites and landmarks across the country are dedicated to their lives and accomplishments.