National Women's Hall of Fame

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National Women's Hall of Fame Ensuring the contributions of women are not overlooked, but honored and celebrated! Join our mission!
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The National Women’s Hall of Fame is the nation’s oldest membership organization dedicated to honoring and celebrating the achievements of distinguished American women. The Hall uses the stories of its Inductees as tools for inspiration, innovation and imagination. A not-for-profit educational institution, its programs include Induction Weekend, educational programs, and special exhibits and events.

In celebration of our 2026 Inductee Class, artist Lydia Boddie-Rice created a stunning collection of storytelling kites,...
10/15/2026

In celebration of our 2026 Inductee Class, artist Lydia Boddie-Rice created a stunning collection of storytelling kites, each capturing the life and legacy of one of this year's extraordinary women.

Through carefully selected images, symbols and words, each kite tells a unique story of courage, creativity, leadership and lasting impact. Together, the collection reflects how the achievements of one woman can inspire generations to come.

As Lydia shared in her remarks, “A kite must first be grounded before it can rise.” Like the kites themselves, the legacies of these women begin with individual stories and grow into something far greater.

Thank you Lydia for bringing these remarkable stories to life in such a beautiful and meaningful way!

The National Women’s Hall of Fame made The New York Times!We're thrilled to be featured in their newest travel guide, 36...
10/14/2026

The National Women’s Hall of Fame made The New York Times!

We're thrilled to be featured in their newest travel guide, 36 Hours in the Finger Lakes, highlighting some of the places that make our region so special.

Here in Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the women's rights movement, we're proud to preserve and share the stories of extraordinary American women who have shaped our history.

Whether you're a local or planning your first visit to the Finger Lakes, we invite you to discover the stories of the Women of the Hall and explore the region's rich history.

Read the article: https://bit.ly/4s2bfcV

10/13/2026

For more than six decades, Judith Viorst has helped generations of readers find humor, comfort and understanding in the shared experiences of being human.

From childhood and friendship to marriage, motherhood, grief and growing older, her 47 books explore life's complexities with honesty, wit and a remarkable understanding of human nature. Her words have made millions laugh, reflect and feel a little less alone.

As we celebrate Judith's induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame's Class of 2026, we're honoring a writer whose ability to put life's most universal emotions into words has left a lasting mark on American literature.

Watch the video shared at our 2026 Induction Ceremony to learn more about Judith's extraordinary life and legacy.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the achievements and lasting impact of Hispanic and Latina women across our...
10/11/2026

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the achievements and lasting impact of Hispanic and Latina women across our nation’s history, including three trailblazing Women of the Hall.

👩🏻‍⚖️ Justice Sonia Sotomayor made history in 2009 as the first Hispanic Justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

👷🏻‍♀️ Linda G. Alvarado broke barriers in business, building her own construction company and becoming the first Hispanic American to own a Major League Baseball franchise as a co-owner of the Colorado Rockies.

👩‍⚕️ Dr. Antonia Novello became both the first woman and first Hispanic U.S. Surgeon General, using her leadership to advance public health, particularly for women and children.

Their stories reflect the many ways Hispanic women have shaped American history and opened doors for generations to follow.

Today we celebrate the birthday of Helen Hayes, whose extraordinary career on stage and screen spanned more than eight d...
10/10/2026

Today we celebrate the birthday of Helen Hayes, whose extraordinary career on stage and screen spanned more than eight decades.

Known as the “First Lady of American Theatre,” Hayes began performing professionally as a child and went on to become one of the most celebrated actors of the 20th century. Her career stretched from Broadway to radio, film and television, earning her an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. In 1977, she became the first woman in history to achieve EGOT status.

Beyond the longevity of her career, Hayes helped define generations of American theater and demonstrated the enduring power of a life devoted to the arts.

Happy birthday to 1973 National Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee Helen Hayes!

In 1983, geneticist Barbara McClintock received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for a discovery that transform...
10/10/2026

In 1983, geneticist Barbara McClintock received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for a discovery that transformed our understanding of how genes work.

And it all started with corn.

While studying the chromosomes of maize, McClintock discovered that certain genetic elements could move from one location to another, influencing how nearby genes behaved. Her groundbreaking work on these “jumping genes,” now known as transposable elements, challenged prevailing ideas about the genome and was initially met with skepticism.

Decades after making her discovery, McClintock’s work earned one of science’s highest honors and reshaped the field of genetics.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary spent her life using education, journalism and the law to push for greater freedom and equality.An a...
10/09/2026

Mary Ann Shadd Cary spent her life using education, journalism and the law to push for greater freedom and equality.

An abolitionist born into a family active in the Underground Railroad, she later moved to Canada, where she became the first Black woman publisher in North America as editor of the antislavery newspaper The Provincial Freeman. After returning to the United States, she recruited Black soldiers for the Union Army, earned a law degree from Howard University at age 60 and became an outspoken advocate for women’s suffrage. National Park Service

Across each chapter of her life, Shadd Cary challenged the limits placed on Black Americans and women, insisting on their right to participate fully in public and political life.

The National Women’s Hall of Fame is honored to receive a 2026 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award from the Preser...
10/08/2026

The National Women’s Hall of Fame is honored to receive a 2026 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award from the Preservation League of New York State, recognizing the restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Seneca Knitting Mill.

This recognition reflects nearly two decades of work to preserve the 1844 Mill and transform it into the Hall’s permanent home, creating a space where women’s history can be shared for generations to come.

We’re especially grateful to CJS Architects, whose leadership, expertise and partnership have been integral to bringing this vision to life, as well as the many partners who contributed to this remarkable project.

On October 7, 1993, Toni Morrison was selected to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first Black woman ...
10/07/2026

On October 7, 1993, Toni Morrison was selected to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first Black woman to earn the honor. The Swedish Academy recognized her for writing that gave “life to an essential aspect of American reality.”

Morrison was also the only woman among the 1993 Nobel laureates, marking another significant distinction in a groundbreaking literary career.

Morrison formally received the award at the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, 1993. Her achievement remains a landmark in American literature and women’s history, honoring a body of work that continues to shape how generations of readers understand history, identity and the American experience.

What does it look like to bring generations of women’s history together in one room?Rochester Business Journal takes rea...
10/07/2026

What does it look like to bring generations of women’s history together in one room?

Rochester Business Journal takes readers inside our 2026 Induction Ceremony, sharing moments from an extraordinary evening honoring 10 women whose work has shaped public service, science, literature, education, human rights and more.

From the stories shared on stage to reflections from this year’s inductees and those accepting on their behalf, the piece captures what made this year’s Induction so meaningful.

Read the full story from Rochester Business Journal: bit.ly/4yyIMxW

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