National Women's Hall of Fame

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.

When Sonia Sotomayor took her seat on the U.S. Supreme Court in 2009, she became the first Latina justice in the Court's...
06/25/2026

When Sonia Sotomayor took her seat on the U.S. Supreme Court in 2009, she became the first Latina justice in the Court's history.

Raised in a Bronx housing project by her Puerto Rican mother, Sotomayor overcame significant barriers on her path to becoming one of the nation's most influential jurists. Throughout her career—from prosecutor to federal judge to Supreme Court justice—she has brought a distinctive perspective shaped by her lived experiences and a deep commitment to equal justice under the law.

Justice Sotomayor's career continues to demonstrate the importance of diverse voices and experiences in shaping the American legal system.

On June 24, 1969, National Organization for Women (NOW) members Karen DeCrow and Faith Seidenberg filed a federal lawsui...
06/24/2026

On June 24, 1969, National Organization for Women (NOW) members Karen DeCrow and Faith Seidenberg filed a federal lawsuit against New York City's McSorley's Old Ale House after being denied service simply because they were women.

When the pair entered the famously "men only" bar months earlier, they were met with hostility and refused service. Rather than accept discrimination, they took their fight to court.

Their persistence paid off. In 1970, a judge ruled that McSorley's policy violated New York's public accommodations law, forcing the historic bar to admit women.

The case became a landmark victory in the fight for gender equality, proving that even long-standing traditions could be challenged—and changed.

Today we celebrate Wilma Rudolph, an athlete whose determination changed the face of American sports, on what would have...
06/24/2026

Today we celebrate Wilma Rudolph, an athlete whose determination changed the face of American sports, on what would have been her 86th birthday.

Rudolph survived polio as a child and, despite being told she might never walk again, competed on the Olympic stage for the first time in 1956, earning a bronze medal as part of the U.S. women's 4x100-meter relay team at just 16 years old. Four years later, at the 1960 Rome Olympics, she made history as the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games.

Beyond her achievements on the track, she also used her platform to challenge racial segregation, insisting that her hometown celebration in Tennessee be integrated. Her legacy continues to inspire generations to overcome barriers and pursue greatness.

Patsy Takemoto Mink helped change the future of education in America — a legacy that continues to shape opportunities f...
06/23/2026

Patsy Takemoto Mink helped change the future of education in America — a legacy that continues to shape opportunities for generations of students more than 50 years later.

As a member of Congress, Mink was a driving force behind Title IX, the landmark legislation signed into law on June 23, 1972, that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and expanded opportunities for women and girls across academics, athletics, admissions, leadership, and nearly every aspect of educational life.

Mink spent her career fighting for equity and opportunity, drawing on her own experiences with discrimination to advocate for lasting change. Title IX was officially renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in 2002.

History is made because people choose to invest in it.On September 24, the National Women’s Hall of Fame will celebrate ...
06/22/2026

History is made because people choose to invest in it.

On September 24, the National Women’s Hall of Fame will celebrate its 2026 Inductees at the historic George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York. By investing in the Induction Ceremony as a sponsor, your organization helps ensure the stories of groundbreaking athletes, scientists, advocates, artists, and changemakers continue to inspire generations to come.

Join us in honoring extraordinary women and helping preserve and elevate their stories for future generations.

Before she became the first U.S. citizen to be canonized, Frances Xavier Cabrini was building institutions that transfor...
06/21/2026

Before she became the first U.S. citizen to be canonized, Frances Xavier Cabrini was building institutions that transformed lives.

In 1880, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a religious order dedicated to serving immigrants, children, and communities in need. Mother Cabrini and the Sisters established schools, hospitals, orphanages, and social service organizations that supported thousands of immigrant families as they built new lives.

What began with a small group of women grew into a global mission rooted in compassion, dignity, and service that continues today.

Big news from Seneca Falls: the National Women’s Hall of Fame has been awarded a $93,000 grant from the New York State C...
06/20/2026

Big news from Seneca Falls: the National Women’s Hall of Fame has been awarded a $93,000 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts to help shape the future of our historic home, the Seneca Knitting Mill.

The funding will support architectural and engineering planning for the building’s upper floors, laying the groundwork for expanded exhibits, educational opportunities, and visitor experiences.

As we continue preserving the stories of the women who changed history, investments like this help ensure those stories can inspire future generations. We are grateful to NYSCA and New York State for their continued support of this important work!

Forty-three years ago, Sally Ride made history as the first American woman in space.On June 18, 1983, Ride launched aboa...
06/18/2026

Forty-three years ago, Sally Ride made history as the first American woman in space.

On June 18, 1983, Ride launched aboard Space Shuttle Challenger as a mission specialist, becoming one of six crew members on STS-7. At just 32 years old, she shattered a barrier that had stood since the beginning of the U.S. space program and inspired millions to see new possibilities for themselves in science, technology, and exploration.

On June 17, 1873, Susan B. Anthony’s trial began in nearby Canandaigua, New York, after she was arrested for casting a b...
06/17/2026

On June 17, 1873, Susan B. Anthony’s trial began in nearby Canandaigua, New York, after she was arrested for casting a ballot in the 1872 presidential election.

Anthony argued that the 14th Amendment granted her the right to vote as a citizen. The court disagreed. Before the jury could deliberate, the judge directed a guilty verdict and fined her $100—a penalty she famously refused to pay.

More than a legal proceeding, the trial became a defining moment in the fight for women’s suffrage, drawing national attention to the contradiction of denying women a voice in democracy.

Katharine Graham helped shape one of the most influential eras in American journalism.As publisher of The Washington Pos...
06/16/2026

Katharine Graham helped shape one of the most influential eras in American journalism.

As publisher of The Washington Post, she led the newspaper through the publication of the Pentagon Papers and its groundbreaking reporting on the Watergate scandal—moments that underscored the importance of a free press in a democracy.

Graham also broke barriers in business, becoming the first woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Her leadership opened doors for future generations of women in media and beyond.

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