Every March, the country celebrates Women’s History Month to highlight contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. Washington, DC is the home to the following important sites that are dedicated to preserving and honoring the contributions of women. 

Daughters of the American Revolution Museum
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), was founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. The DAR Museum is comprised of 31 period rooms and 2 galleries. Our collection consists of over 30,000 decorative and fine arts objects spanning the 18th and 19th centuries, including furniture, glass, ceramics, textiles and silver.

Hillwood Museum & Gardens
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is the grand, former estate of Post Cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. Located on 25 acres in a lovely residential neighborhood in Northwest DC, Hillwood is merely five miles north of the White House and two miles from the National Zoo and National Cathedral. This estate is Mrs. Post’s gift to the public. Come discover her fabulous lifestyle and the treasures she’s left us to enjoy—a Georgian Mansion, the most comprehensive collection of Russian Imperial objects outside of Russia including Faberge Eggs and Russian Orthodox icons, 18th century French decorative arts, tapestries and porcelain. Enjoy 13 acres of formal gardens including a Japanese-style garden with waterfalls, a working greenhouse filled with 2,500 orchids, and a cutting garden that provides fresh flowers throughout the estate.

The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
Mary McLeod Bethune achieved her greatest national and international recognition at the Washington, DC townhouse at 1318 Vermont Avenue, NW, that is now this Historic Site. It was the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and was her last home in Washington, DC. From here, Bethune and the Council spearheaded strategies and developed programs that advanced the interests of African American women and the Black community.

National Museum of Women in the Arts
Located in a spectacular 1908 Renaissance Revival building, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the first and only museum dedicated solely to celebrating the diverse artistic achievements of women. The museum was founded to challenge traditional histories of art, to uncover the works of women artists who have been overlooked and unacknowledged, and to assure the legacy of women in contemporary art.

Sewall-Belmont House and Museum
This National Historic Landmark, one of the oldest houses on Capitol Hill, is the headquarters of the historic National Woman's Party. For 43 years, it was the Washington home of the NWP's founder, Alice Paul, radical suffragist leader, author of the Equal Rights Amendment and lifelong activist for women's rights. The museum has unparalleled archives and a collection of fine art and artifacts from the woman's suffrage and equal rights movements. Learn the inspiring and still unfinished story of women's quest for full equality. View original busts and portraits of the pioneers of the women's rights movement, suffrage parade banners, Susan B. Anthony's desk, political cartoons and historic photographs. Note: The museum is currently closed to the public due to construction, but is still offering events and programs throughout the city.

PRogram and Events

During the month of March the U.S. Capitol Historical Society will present a series of five weekly book-signing lectures highlighting biographies of twentieth-century First Ladies published by the University of Kansas Press. The second program features a recently published study of the history of the congressional page system. Each program presents a 35 to 40 minute talk by the author, followed by time for comments and questions from the audience.

The National Building Museum will hold an annual lecture program on the topic of Women of Architecture in conjunction with Women’s History Month. The goal of the Women of Architecture Series is to recognize and celebrate the professional and personal accomplishments of women in the field of architecture. Annabelle Selldorf, FAIA, founding principal of Selldorf Architects, will discuss Architecture and Context. The museum will also present Walls Speak: The Narrative Art of Hildreth Meiere, the first major retrospective of Hildreth Meière, a twentieth century Art Deco muralist, mosaicist, painter, and decorative artist.

Twins Jazz Club celebrates Women's History Month with the 1st Annual Washington Women In Jazz Festival. Every Wednesday throughout the month of March, the club will host female jazz artists, performers and musicians.

The National Park Service proudly commemorates Women's History Month throughout March and welcomes everyone to help celebrate and learn about women's achievements to our Nation. With the theme of "Our History is Our Strength,” the National Park Service presents a series of exhibits, programs and events that are directly connected to and support this theme and concept. Visit the house where Mary McLeod Bethune achieved her greatest national and international recognition at the Washington, DC. Now this Historic Site, it was the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and will hold vairous programs and events throughout the month.