New York State Museum Celebrates Women’s History Month With Viewing of Women’s Rights Pioneers Central Park Monument Model

The New York State Museum, in partnership with Monumental Women and in observance of Women’s History Month, will host a donation ceremony to debut the Women’s Rights Pioneers Central Park Monument model at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the Huxley Theatre in the Cultural Education Center located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, New York. The statue features three nationally recognized leaders of the women's rights movement, all hailing from New York State: Sojourner Truth (Ulster County), Susan B. Anthony (Rochester), and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Johnstown, Seneca Falls, and NYC). It will also be included as part of the Museum’s new exhibition, Women Who Lead.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, "Although women's history is an essential part of our collective story, it has often been overlooked and underappreciated. However, the three courageous women represented in the Women's Rights Pioneers Monument Model, through their unwavering determination and dedication to fight for change and equality, even when it was unpopular and dangerous to do so, roused a prevailing movement that still lives on today. Their relentless demand for equality reminds us that the fight for women's rights is far from over and that we must continue working together to ensure women's voices are valued and heard."

State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “By learning about the struggles and achievements of women in the past, we all gain a more comprehensive and accurate understanding about the ways in which gender has influenced and shaped our society. Our shared history helps us to appreciate how the trailblazers, who are so powerfully depicted in the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument Model, challenged traditional gender roles and expectations while also leaving a legacy of triumph, resilience, and the fortitude to continue to fight for justice and equality for generations of women to come.”

The 1/3-size Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument was made possible through donations raised by Monumental Women, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and appreciation of women’s history through a national education campaign. It was created specifically for the New York State Museum’s collections and will be on display at the New York State Museum beginning Thursday, March 9, 2023. The statue is representative of the diverse achievements of women across New York and will be featured as part of the State Museum’s new exhibition, “Women Who Lead”, which opens on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

On August 26, 2020, Monumental Women unveiled the first statue of real women, in Central Park’s 167-year history, the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument of Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment and women winning the right to vote.

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about Women’s History Month events and other programming can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.