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Women's History in National Parks
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Telling a Broader HistoryNational parks preserve and share stories of visionary women who dared to imagine a different future. We continue to illuminate new stories, contributing to our collective history.
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Then, Now, and BeyondWith over 400 national parks across the country, there are endless women's stories to share. NPF is dedicated to supporting, uncovering, and amplifying these stories in parks, as well as championing the women in our parks today.
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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 dedicated, passionate 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 woman's story to tell. Some parks are dedicated to the life and legacy of one 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 our history and offered inspiration for the present and future. NPF supports history and culture programs and projects to 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 have - and continue to - shape the history of the United States, from the extraordinary to the everyday, and their stories should be reflected in our national parks.
NPF's Work in This Space
NPF supports national parks, programs, and projects that highlight the stories of women who made history and those who continue to shape our future.
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ProgramWomen in ParksNPF's Women in Parks program supports projects that highlights the contributions women have made to our country and the role they continue to play.
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ProgramNPS Mellon Humanities FellowshipNPS Mellon Humanities Fellowship program supports the work 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.
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ProgramInclusive StorytellingInclusive Storytelling grants support contemporary research in parks, as well as projects that transform this research into relevant interpretative products – from interpretive park programs and exhibits to websites and videos.
Recent Projects
Explore just some of the projects supported by NPF that help preserve and share the stories of women in our national parks.
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Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National MonumentWomen in the Mississippi MovementAn Inclusive Storytelling grant supported Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument to tell the often-overlooked history of women in the Mississippi Movement by featuring them on a series of church fans at partner sites throughout Mississippi during the 90th birthday year of Miss Myrlie Evers.
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Women’s History in the Pacific West FellowExploring Women's History in the Pacific WestNPF supported Nicole Martin, PhD, a Women's History Fellow, in creating a digital exhibit spotlighting women's history in the Pacific West, fostering dialogue about women's contributions to American history across over 35 national park sites.
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Thomas Edison National Historical ParkCommemorating Mina Edison’s LegacyWith support from NPF’s Women in Parks and Inclusive Storytelling programs, Thomas Edison National Historical Park hired an archival research intern who helped uncover new materials about Mina Edison, highlighting her role as a "Home Executive" and promoting women's equality.
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Service CorpsSupporting All-Women Service CorpsNPF has supported multiple all-women-identifying service corps crews to address priority park projects, including a chainsaw crew at parks in West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, a fire corps at Yosemite and Grand Teton National Parks, and a trail crew at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Andersonville National Historic SiteSupporting Women’s History ResearchAn NPF Women in Parks grant enabled Andersonville National Historic Site to focus on research around the Women's Relief Corps and the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, two women's groups that led early preservation efforts of the historic site.
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Erie Canalway National Heritage CorridorSuffrage Rallies & the Erie CanalA Women in Parks grant helped produce a video program highlighting the women who traversed the Erie Canal to attend suffrage rallies in Seneca Falls, NY.
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César E. Chávez National MonumentWomen's Contributions to the Labor MovementThanks to an NPF Women in Parks grant, César E. Chávez National Monument conducted a research project to develop future in-park programs highlighting women's contributions to the labor movement.
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Birmingham Civil Rights National MonumentHighlighting Carrie A. TuggleAn NPF Women in Parks grant brought a new program to life at Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, which will research and develop educational materials on the life of Carrie A. Tuggle, a prominent civil rights activist.
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Fellowships and InternshipsSupporting Fellows and InternsFellowships and internships provide opportunities for engagement with national parks, ranging from NPF-supported postdoctoral fellowships in the sciences and humanities to internships for high school and college students to develop new interpretive content about women in national parks while growing their leadership and career-building skills.
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Program Field TripsInspiring the Next Generation of Park StewardsSchool field trips to parks focusing on women's history foster appreciation among teachers and students, while uncovering and interpreting women's history in parks highlights a more inclusive American story. Numerous Open OutDoors for Kids field trips explore aspects of women’s history, including Jimmy Carter National Historical Park highlighting First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s mental health advocacy and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park shedding light on civil rights and women’s history.
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Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National MonumentProtecting Artifacts at Belmont-PaulWhen Washington, D.C.’s Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument underwent restoration, a 2022 NPF grant made sure precious artifacts donated to the site when the National Women’s Party disbanded were safely moved, stored, and reinstalled.
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Survey SaysUndertaking Nationwide ResearchTo commemorate the centennial of the 19th amendment, NPF released the findings of a new study showing Americans wish they knew 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.
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Keweenaw National Historical ParkWomen's Political Activity in KeweenawAn NPF Women in Parks grant helped Keweenaw National Historical Park in Michigan expand interpretations of women’s history and their contributions to the copper mining industry and labor strike politics in the early 20th century.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical ParkHonoring Coretta Scott KingA 2021 NPF’s African American Experience Fund supported the development of an exhibit at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park exploring and honoring the life and contributions of Coretta Scott King.
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Cache la Poudre National Heritage AreaRecording the Experiences of Northern Arapaho WomenA 2020 Women in Parks grant from NPF supported the “Lifting Voices from the Shadows” project at Cache la Poudre National Heritage Area, recording and archiving the personal experiences of Northern Arapaho women. Their stories will be used to create materials such as educational videos, webinars, and future in-park programming.
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Homestead National Historical ParkWomen Homesteaders & The Suffrage MovementNPF provided funds to Homestead National Historical Park to research and share resources and programs about female homesteaders and their efforts to challenge voting restrictions prior to passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.
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Acadia National ParkSharing the Stories of Women in AcadiaAcadia National Park developed women’s history interpretive materials and made stories more accessible for staff, supported by a Women in Parks grant from NPF. Funds helped the park move towards more fully representing women and their history in the park.
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Death Valley National ParkUnsung Women's Histories in Death ValleyAn NPF Women in Parks grant supported a project to uncover and disseminate stories of women’s life and work at Death Valley. A research historian explored material for programming and exhibits, published women’s biographies on the park website, and designed a new wayside exhibit at a mine in the park that was owned and operated by a woman.
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NPS Park History ProgramCollecting Oral Histories of Women in NPSAn NPF Women in Parks grant allowed NPS’s Park History Program to create an oral history collection of women who broke barriers and worked for change in the NPS. The research collection will be available in archives at the NPS History Collection, a resource that’s representative of and able to be used by all parks and programs.
Related Stories
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Program UpdateWomen and Park HistoryLearn about the work of two Women in Parks interns, whose research explored new angles of lesser-known history at Tumacácori National Historical Park and Harpers Ferry Center for Media Services.
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Guest BlogFour African American Suffragists You Should KnowAkiima Price, Anacostia Park Community Liaison to NPS, celebrates the contributions of four African American suffragists.
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BlogQuotes to Inspire You from Women ConservationistsCelebrate and be inspired by the achievements of women conservationists throughout history.
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Guest BlogEvery Park Has a Connection to WomenAlanna Sobel reflects on the multidimensional story of our country, and how women's stories are foundational in telling the stories of our national parks.
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Feature StorySea SistersFor several years, NPF has funded a crew of women combat veterans to scuba dive at Biscayne National Park, developing new skills and interests while helping to preserve crucial ocean resources.
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NPS ResourceWomen's History in the Pacific WestExplore a selection of biographies of women in the western U.S., compiled in a project made possible in part by a grant from NPF and conducted in partnership with the University of California Davis History Department.
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NPS ResourceWomen and the EnvironmentDiscover stories of women engaging with the environment on a local and global level, as well as how past environmental changes have affected women’s lives.
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NPS ResourceWomen and ScienceNPF has supported NPS efforts to champion the work of NPS women conservationists. Through their “Dare to Imagine” initiative, NPS created a platform to showcase the conservation articles, videos, and social media content created by trailblazing NPS women.