What We Do
The Museum researches, collects and exhibits the contributions of women to the social,
cultural, economic and political life of our nation in a context of world history.
The museum will use innovative and engaging means including permanent and online exhibits,
educational programs, and outreach efforts to communicate the breadth of women's experiences
and accomplishments to the widest possible audience. The sharing of this knowledge will
illuminate and encourage women and men, people of all classes, races and cultures to move
into the future with respect, equal confidence, greater partnership, and opportunity.
When was the NWHM founded?
The National Women's History Museum was founded in 1996 by Karen Staser. Click here for a letter from our founder.
Our Institution
We have been a privately funded institution since our founding.
Once a physical site is established, we will apply to the Smithsonian
for an affiliation. This will enable us to borrow objects from the
Smithsonian's collections for use in exhibitions.
"A better world awaits the generation that absorbs what women and men have to share about life from a joint perspective. Together, all things are possible."
Karen Staser
Founder, National Women's History Museum
Why "Women's History"?
Women's contributions and accomplishments for the most part have been overlooked and consequently omitted from mainstream culture.
The National Women's History Museum will help fill that void. Rather than rewriting current exhibitions at other history museums or
having to decide what to omit elsewhere to "fit in" women's history, the NWHM will serve to place women's history along side current historical exhibitions.
Women's history isn't meant to rewrite history. The objective is to promote scholarship and expand our knowledge of American history.
Women's history isn't meant to rewrite history. The objective is to promote scholarship and expand our knowledge of American history.
Vision
The National Women’s History Museum’s vision is to build a world-class museum at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The National Women’s History Museum currently raises awareness and honors women’s diverse experiences and achievements through its dynamic online museum, educational programs, scholarship and research. Once housed prominently among the other great museums of Washington, D.C., it will create better understanding and greater partnerships among men and women.
The National Women’s History Museum will be the first museum in any nation’s capital to show the full scope of the history of its women and will serve as a guiding light to people everywhere.
Meet Our Board of Directors
"Throughout history, women have come together to change our society for
the better whether it was gaining reforms in the early 1900's that gave
us sewage systems and pasturization of milk or, more recently, reforms
giving women rights to credit and home ownership. The NWHM Board is bound
together by the aspiration to honor the women who came before us and to ensure
that their many traditional and nontraditional roles are systematically
explored and acknowledged and brought into the mainstream culture.
The NWHM Board invites you to join in this effort."
Joan Wages
NWHM President & CEO
Joan Wages
NWHM President & CEO
News
Website Redesign
Washington, DC—The National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) is pleased to announce the lau... [more]
New Mission Statement
NWHM has a new mission statement: The National Women’s History Museum affirms the value of kno... [more]
History of Latinas in the US
Congratulations to Judge Sotomayor – another woman making history! NWHM members have contacted... [more]
Board Members Thoughts On Epidemics
“The current swine flu epidemic reminded me of previous epidemics and how women in history had... [more]
Events
Shine On Event Success
The NWHM and Good Housekeeping event was a spectacular success! Below are links to websites that hav... [more]
Shine On Event
Shine On: Celebrating 125 Years of Women Making their Mark To purchase tickets, go to http://www.nyc... [more]
“We all live on in the future we make&...
Senator Barbara Mikulski often refers to the male senators who support women’s issues as ̶... [more]
Equality Day
August – the month of Equality Day: Someday Equality Day greeting cards will be sent, and stan... [more]