Today Maggie and I took a road trip to Seneca Falls to the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.
Our first stop was the National Women’s Hall of Fame (http://www.greatwomen.org/home.php), “Showcasing great women….Inspiring all!” The Hall of Fame was created in 1969 and pays tribute to some of the greatest women in the history of the United States. Inside the Hall, there are posters on each woman with a small biography listing her contribution to society. Some led the way in women’s rights, government, the humanities, the arts, athletics, business, education, philanthropy, religion, science and medicine. It is a lot of reading, but all very interesting. The admission to the Hall of Fame is $3 per person, but we had a coupon, so it cost us a whopping $1.50 for each of us to enter!
Our next stop was the Visitor’s Center for the Women’s Rights National Historical Park (http://www.nps.gov/wori/). There is no longer a charge to go to the sites of this Park. The Visitor Center is a beautiful building showcasing an exhibit on the history of Women’s Rights and a life-size sculpture of some of the individuals who attended the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls on July 19 and 20, 1848. The Convention took place at the Wesleyan Chapel, which is next to the Visitor’s Center, and is currently under renovation. There are a few other places that you have drive to that are part of the park and we decided to visit them after lunch.
After lunch we went to Elizabeth Cady Stanton House. Elizabeth Cady Stanton is believed to be the one who was the driving force of the Convention and she was an important leader in the women's rights movement. The final location was the M'Clitock House which is important because it is where the Declaration of Sentiments was drafted. The Declaration of Sentiments is the document that was presented at the Convention. It is based upon the Declaration of Independence and proclaimed that “all men and women are created equal”.
I feel as a woman that it is important for me to go and see things like this. Learn about the women who paved the way for me and to CELEBRATE them. It was not that long ago that I was in High school and I was told by a guidance counselor that I “did not need to take a full course load because I was a girl”….yes, truly! And as I travel to other countries where women are treated “less than” I remember how far we have come thanks to these women and I’m so very grateful. I do however, realize that in some arenas here in the US and globally there is much yet to go.
While we were in Waterloo at the M’Clitock house, we discovered that Waterloo was the birthplace of Memorial Day, and they have a Memorial Day museum (http://www.waterloony.com/MdayMus.html). WELL, since it IS Memorial Day Weekend, we HAD to go. So, an impromptu addition to my list ………..making it #24! They ask for a $3 donation to enter. Memorial Day was created out of the Civil War. In 1865, Henry C. Wells, a local Druggist, proposed that a commemoration be held to honor the sacrifice of those who died in the war, and on May 5, 1866 the first Memorial Day was held.
Our day was rich in history. We are so blessed in NY to have all of this right in our own backyard….how many don’t ever take advantage of it? How many don’t even know that history pivotal to this country that happened right here in NY or who these important women and individual were or what they did?.......it’s all there for us to see and learn from and for a whopping $4.50 admission for all the things we did all day!.......come on America!
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