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Feminism: The Second Wave

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About Us

Founded in 1996, the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) is an innovative museum dedicated to uncovering, interpreting, and celebrating women’s diverse contributions to society. A renowned leader in women’s history education, the Museum brings to life the countless untold stories of women throughout history, and serves as a space for all to inspire, experience, collaborate, and amplify women’s impact—past, present, and future. We strive to fundamentally change the way women and girls see their potential and power. NWHM fills in major omissions of women in history books and K-12 education, providing scholarly content and educational programming for teachers, students, and parents. We reach more than five million visitors each year through our online content and education programming and, in March 2023, mounted our first physical exhibit at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown Washington, DC, "We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC."

Each time a girl opens a book and reads a womanless history, she learns she is worth less.

Myra Pollack Sadker
Professor, Author, Researcher, and Activist

Did You Know?

Sister Rosetta Tharpe began her musical pursuits in the church. She experimented with various genres including rhythm and blues and rock and roll. She was exceedingly skilled at playing the electric guitar, asserting her mastery as a guitarist. Tharpe has been dubbed the “Godmother of Rock and Roll.” Musicians such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, and Little Richard have cited her as an influence. Lifelong friend, Roxie Moore, spoke enthusiastically of Tharpe’s talent: "She could play a guitar like nobody else you've ever seen . . . People would flock to see her. Everybody loved her.”

You can learn more about Sister Rosetta Tharpe and other musicians from U.S. history in this month’s featured biographies.

Use the NWHM’s compendium of online biographies to spark curiosity and dig deeper into women’s impact throughout our shared national history. Explore more here

If we want our girls to benefit from the courage and wisdom of the women before them, we have to share the stories.

Shireen Dodson

Students and Educators

Discover our educational resources. Find lesson plans, biographies, posters, timelines, videos, and more on a wide variety of women's history topics. 

Museum News

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New: NWHM's Annual Impact Report

Read our first annual Impact Report, which explores our work in 2023.
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Just Announced: NWHM's 2024 "For Educators, By Educators" Cohort

The "For Educators, By Educators" Cohort will collaborate with Museum staff to create K-12 lesson plans to help learners explore women's impacts on society.
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The National Women's History Museum Named America250 National Resource Partner for Women's History

NWHM is among a select group of expert nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that will help elevate and scale America250 programming.
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Join Us for Our 2025 Gala!

The National Women's History Museum and honorary gala chair Meryl Streep invite you to save the date for our 2025 Women Making History Awards in Washington, DC. Join us as we celebrate extraordinary, trailblazing women who have made profound contributions to our society and who serve as inspiration for the next generation of leaders, change agents, and history makers. Honorees to be announced soon.

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Join Us!

The National Women's History Museum and the U.S. Mint, in partnership with Better Days and the Utah Historical Society, invite you to join us in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 24 for a special evening in celebration of Zitkála-Šá and the new quarter released in her honor.

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Celebrate Celia!

Watch our joyous celebration of the incomparable Celia Cruz and the launch of the new quarter in her honor, hosted with the U.S. Mint in partnership with the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music, Lehman College, Telemundo, and the estate of Celia Cruz.

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Women's Political Participation

NWHM's Women Vote, Women Win initiative explores the historical context of the 19th Amendment, the critical work that continued after its passage to ensure all women had the right to vote, and contemporary issues around voting through programming, partnerships, resources, conversations, and voter engagement activities.

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Upcoming Events

2024-10-24

Historic Change: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Zitkála-Šá

Join us on October 24 in Salt Lake City for a special evening in celebration of Zitkála-Šá and the new quarter released in her honor.
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