Commemorate the fight for gender equality and honor the power of women with this three-day itinerary.
Day 1
Morning
Begin your exploration with a trip to the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument. This 200-year-old historic house has been at the center of the fight for women's rights since the National Woman’s Party became the owner in 1929. Guests can learn about the origins of the suffrage and women’s rights movements. You can then head to the National Portrait Gallery for several exhibits highlighting our nation’s great women, including First Lady Michelle Obama and the four female justices that served on the Supreme Court in the early 2000s (O’Connor, Ginsburg, Sotomayor and Kagan).
Afternoon
National Museum of American History
Make your way to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, where you can visit the American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith exhibit, which features Susan B. Anthony’s red shawl, suffrage buttons, the table on which Elizabeth Stanton drafted the Declaration of Sentiments for the famous Seneca Falls Convention and a women’s suffrage wagon. Gaze upon the Star-Spangled Banner, crafted by Mary Pickersgill, her 13-year-old daughter Caroline, nieces Eliza Young (13) and Margaret Young (15) and a 13-year-old Black indentured servant, Grace Wisher. Picturing Women Inventors celebrates women inventors who have been overlooked or undervalued in U.S. society. The exhibit highlights the accomplishments, challenges and motivations of some of the most important inventors of the 20th and 21st centuries. Visitors can marvel at wall murals (with text in English and Spanish) and at the inspiration of these brilliant creators. You’ll find, among others, Grace Murray Hopper who wrote code for the Mark I electromechanical computer, and Alexis Lewis who invented a rescue travois for Somalian families fleeing famine.
Evening
Conclude the day with a night-time tour of the National Mall’s monuments and Memorials, including the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. The striking display was dedicated in 1993 to honor the women who risked their lives to serve their country during the Vietnam War as nurses, physicians, air traffic controllers, communication specialists and intelligence officers.
Day 2
Morning
Journey to Arlington National Cemetery to view the Women In Military Service For America Memorial, the only major national memorial to honor the three million women who have defended the nation from the Revolution to the present. The powerful memorial is located at the gateway to the historic cemetery. Groups can take advantage of guided docent tours and HERstory activity carts.
Afternoon
Back in downtown DC, check out the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. The museum addresses the gender imbalance in the presentation of art by bringing to light important women artists of the past while also promoting great women artists working today. Next up, visit the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House. Bethune was an inspirational educator and leader and was the first Black woman to serve as a college president and head a federal agency. Not only does this historic home tell the remarkable story of Mary McLeod Bethune, but it also showcases the influence of the National Council of Negro Women on the nation’s civil rights movement.
Evening
Celebrate a DC icon while enjoying dinner at Ben’s Chili Bowl. Virginia Ali, the co-founder of the DC institution that has stood for more than 60 years, is beloved by all who call DC home. Stop in for the famous half-smoke and you might just catch a glimpse of Virginia cooking at the grill.
Day 3
Morning
DAR Museum and Library
Start your day at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Museum and Library. The museum consists of 31 rooms designed by DAR members highlighting American homes from the late 1600s to 1930. Your group is welcome to research your state and family history in the DAR’s impressive archives. Learn about the research Civil-War era nurse Clara Barton did to connect war-torn US families at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum. The building also served as battlefield supply storage and Barton’s residence in the city.
Afternoon
Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens
For a dose of culture and calm, spend the afternoon reclining in the elegant landscape surrounding Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens while having a proper tea. The thirteen acres of outdoor rooms, including French and Japanese-style gardens and a greenhouse, complement the refined interior of the mansion. This home to businesswoman Majorie Merriweather Post features Faberge eggs and the largest collection of Russian art outside of the Russian Federation.
Evening
Explore more of DC’s women’s history with A Tour of Her Own. The itinerary can be customizable to your topic of interest, such as trips to women-owned businesses, author talks and attendance at women’s professional sport games. Finish your evening with dinner at Fava Pot. This Dupont Circle neighborhood favorite serves authentic Egyptian cuisine from owner and Egypt native Dina Daniel. Fava Pot also gives back to the DC region and Egypt to provide opportunities to other small businesses.
Recommended: To enhance this itinerary, you can stay at Hotel Zena – a cultural hub celebrating female empowerment through art, design and programming – or the Salamander DC, founded by entrepreneur and Monumental Sports partner Sheila Johnson.
For more information, please contact Lindsay Hill at grouptour@washington.org or visit washington.org.