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National Parks Celebrate Women's History11:37AM / Friday, March 07, 2008
 | | Virginia McClurg
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WASHINGTON - The National Park Service offers a number of sites at which to learn about the contributions that women of all races and classes have made to the nation's history.
March was declared Women's History Month by Congress in 1987 to recognize those contributions and to promote the teaching of women's history.
The parks help to commemorate advances made in education, economic and social welfare, property rights, family life and, most importantly, the right to vote - especially significant this year as a woman for the first time has a chance to win a major party's presidential nomination, and possibly the presidency. National parks allow present and future generations to witness this history firsthand.
"America's history comes alive in the national parks," said National Parks Conservation Association Deputy Vice President for Government Affairs Laura Loomis. "Taking care of the places that honor our past, and continue to inspire our future, should be a national priority for all Americans."
Despite the rich history the parks hold, they often go ignored. They are significantly underfunded and understaffed, and currently face an operational shortfall of $750 million, say park officials. They face issues such as adjacent development, crumbling buildings, looting of cultural resources, and numerous invasive plant species.
In Congress, Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., introduced a bill that could significantly enhance the historic significance of the women's rights movement embodied in national parks. Her bill would establish a commemorative trail in connection with the Women's Rights National Historical Park in New York. The trail would link properties that are historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women's suffrage. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
"Each time I take part in our democracy by casting a vote, whether it is on the House Floor or on Election Day, I am humbled by the shadow of history by the decades of work of women before me who fought tooth and nail for women's suffrage," says Rep. Slaughter. "In their honor, I have introduced HR 3114, the National Women's Rights History Project Act, which hopes to provide Americans with the opportunity to learn more about the female heroes that fought tirelessly to secure the right we take for granted today.
"We've clearly come a long way since the suffrage movement, but we still have a long way to go. By recognizing our foremothers, my bill will remind us of the need to continue the movement for women's equality on behalf of our granddaughters," said Slaughter.
The nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association, the nation's leading voice for the national parks, recommends travelers explore some of the national park sites that commemorate women's history, including:
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site in Washington was the original home of the National Council of Negro Women. Bethune, founder of NCNW, was a national political leader, renowned educator and one of America's most influential black women. The organization's mission remains today to lead, develop and advocate for black women. Today, the site offers tours and special programs. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/mamc/.
Women's Rights National Historical Park in New York honors and commemorates the first Women's Rights Convention, which was convened at Wesleyan Chapel in 1848. At the convention, 100 individuals signed the Declaration of Sentiments, publicly committing to a broad array of rights for women, including suffrage. Guided tours of the park are offered daily. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/wori/.
Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in California preserves the many stories and sites of our country's home-front response to World War II. The Rosie the Riveter Memorial illustrates the challenges and opportunities that women faced during the war years. The National Park Service offers a self-guided automobile tour of the various sites that make up the park. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/rori.
Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado was created thanks to the energy and leadership of a young newspaper reporter named Virginia McClurg. In the late 1800s, McClurg, frustrated by the indifference the federal government showed toward preserving Puebloan history at Mesa Verde, started a petition demanding protection of the ruins, and lobbied Congress to take action. Finally, in 1906, Mesa Verde was the first national park established for its cultural significance. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/meve.
Clara Barton National Historic Site in Maryland serves as a memorial to the legacy of Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. The site was both Barton's home and an early headquarters of the Red Cross. In 1975, the site became the first National Historic Site dedicated to the accomplishments of a woman. Guided tours are available. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/clba.
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