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Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

A black-and-white photograph of seven women standing on a flight of stairs. Mae Reeves stands to the farthest right on the lowest step and wears a white hat and floral patterned handbag.

Five Women to Know for American Business Women's Day

Learn about Mae Reeves, Anna Bissell, Estée Lauder, Maggie Walker, and Sara Sunshine—five women from Smithsonian collections who ran businesses and made history.

A black silhouette of a jumping woman against a colorful fabric background.

Foregrounding Fiber in American Art

The Renwick Gallery’s newest exhibition, Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women, showcases artists who used everyday materials such as cotton, felt, and wool to tell deeply personal stories and offer an alternate view of American art.

A group of thirteen people stand together in front of green shrubs and the Smithsonian Castle.

Because of Her Story Interns Uplifted Women’s History Across Smithsonian

See what projects the Because of Her Story interns worked on this summer to amplify and uplift American women’s history across the Smithsonian.

Elizabeth Babcock from the waist up against a white background. She is leaning against a wall with her arms crossed in front of herself.

Plans, Partnerships and Powerful Women: An Interview with Director Elizabeth Babcock

In this interview, Elizabeth Babcock discusses her goals for her first year as founding director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, plans for building successful partnerships, and the women who have inspired her and surprised her

Adidas soccer ball autographed by the gold medal Women's National Soccer team from the 2012 Olympics.

The Gold Standard: How These Iconic Olympic Athletes Inspired and United Us

Get a behind-the-scenes peek at objects from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History sports collection. Watch as actress Rosario Dawson relives Olympic gold memories and discusses the inspiring future of women’s sports with curator Eric Jentsch

Painted portrait of Cresse Crosby. Her short dark hair stands out against the light background.

On the Trail of American Women in Paris

Learn what motivated curator Robyn Asleson to put together the exhibition Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900-1939, at the National Portrait Gallery.

A black-and-white image of Diane Nash at the podium with men and a woman sitting on either side of her in chairs. Nash stands in the center of the image behind the podium labeled [L.R. HALL/ AUDITORIUM] speaking into the microphone.

Excluded from National Leadership, Black Women Were the Backbone of the Civil Rights Movement

In honor of the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, read about three Black women who worked and sacrificed to keep the movement going.

Marian Pettibone with short grey hair and glasses sits at a lab bench in front of a microscope. There are files and specimen bottle on shelves behind her.

Dr. Marian Pettibone Discovered and Described New Forms of Oceanic Life

The first female curator in the National Museum of Natural History Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Dr. Pettibone described 172 species and fought for the recognition of women in science.

Candid color photo of Audre Lorde from the shoulders up standing at a microphone and podium.

Learn More About LGBTQ+ Women With These Podcasts, Paintings and Portraits

Learn about four LGBTQ+ women who were featured in projects across the Smithsonian

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