
Women's History in National Parks
-
Telling a Broader HistoryNational parks across the country preserve and share stories of visionary women, trailblazers who dared to imagine a different future. We continue to unearth new stories, contributing to our collective history.
-
Then, Now, and BeyondWith over 400 national parks across the country, there is a wide variety of women's stories to tell. NPF is dedicated to supporting, uncovering, and amplifying these stories in parks, as well as championing the women in our parks today.
-
NPF's CommitmentNPF helps elevate and preserve women's history through our Women in Parks program and across various NPF programs, including service corps, internships, fellowships, and more.
Women's Stories in Our National Parks
It's hard to imagine what America would be like today without the contributions of tough, uncompromising women such as Maggie L. Walker or Clara Barton. For everyone traveling to national parks in search of fascinating tales about pivotal historical figures, there are quite a few places where you can learn about the women who helped shape our American history, as well as those who continue to envision our future.
Every national park has a connection to women. Some parks are dedicated to the life and legacy of one particular figure or group of individuals, such as Harriet Tubman National Historical Park or Freedom Riders National Monument. These places focus on the stories and impact of those who shaped our nation, including the women who dared to imagine a different future. Memorials serve as a reminder of those we've lost as well as the legacy of unsung sacrifices of countless others. Parks known for their landscapes and scenic vistas, such as Biscayne National Park or Cape Hatteras National Seashore, continue to depend upon the work of women to study and conserve these treasured places so they are enjoyed by future generations.
For over 100 years, our national parks have reflected not only our history, but also our present and future. NPF's work supporting history and culture programs and projects helps increase access to places, cultural resources, and stories that help all people gain a deeper understanding of parks as our common ground and shared inheritance. Women's narratives have - and continue to - shape the history of the United States, from the extraordinary to the everyday, and play a pivotal role in telling the story of our national parks.
NPF supports national parks, programs, and projects that highlight the stories of women who made history and those who continue to shape our future.

-
Women in ParksProducing Educational MaterialsA 2021 NPF Women in Parks grant helped produce a video program highlighting the women who traversed the Erie Canal to attend suffrage rallies in Seneca Falls.
-
Women in ParksFunding New Research ProjectsThanks to an NPF Women in Parks grant, César E. Chávez National Monument was able to undertake a research project to develop future in-park programs highlighting women's contributions to the labor movement.
-
Women in ParksDeveloping ProgramsAn NPF Women in Parks grant helped bring new program to life at Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. The program will research and develop educational materials on the life of Carrie A. Tuggle, a prominent civil rights activist.

-
ProjectRestoring Belmont-PaulThanks to NPF support, including the generous gift from philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument was able to fund critical repairs and restoration efforts when the park was first designated in 2016.
-
ProgramNational Park Service Mellon Humanities FellowshipsEstablished in 2019, NPF's Mellon Humanities Fellowship program supports the work of a collection of humanities scholars whose research and analysis of the complex and fascinating histories in and around our parks helps us discover untold perspectives and new voices.
-
Survey SaysNational Online SurveyTo commemorate the centennial of the 19th amendment, NPF released the findings of a new study showing Americans wish they new more about U.S. women's history. In the survey, 74% of respondents indicated it is extremely or very important that national parks connect people to history.

-
Park Spotlight10 National Parks that Celebrate Women's HistoryJoin us in exploring just some of the places and NPF projects that share the stories of women throughout our multi-faceted history.
-
Guest BlogFour African American Suffragists You Should KnowAkiima Price, Anacostia Park Community Liaison to NPS, celebrates the contributions of four African American suffragists.

By donating to the National Park Foundation, you support programs like these that help ensure that iconic species have the best chance of survival across their native environments, and that the lands and waters set aside within the National Park System remain an abundant resource, promoting ecological diversity throughout our parks.