When did Congress authorize the Women’s Suffrage National Monument to be built?
On December 17, 2020, with unanimous bipartisan support from Congress, President Trump signed Public Law 116-217, which charges the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation with building a monument in Washington, D.C. to honor the pioneers of the early American women’s suffrage movement. The original enabling legislation did not authorize the monument to be built on the National Mall.
When did Congress authorize the Women’s Suffrage National Monument to be built on the National Mall?
On December 20, 2024, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 1318, which authorizes the Women’s Suffrage National Monument to be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The legislation was signed into law by President Biden on January 4, 2025. With the passage of this historic legislation, the Foundation is working with planning agencies across the nation’s capital to finalize the location of the monument on the National Mall. The final site on the National Mall is expected to be announced in 2026.
Where will the monument be located?
Through Public Law 118-226, Congress directed the monument be built on the National Mall, ensuring that women’s history is accessible to Washington, D.C.’s 36 million annual visitors. The final site for the monument on the National Mall is expected to be announced in 2026.
When will the monument be completed?
The monument is expected to be completed and unveiled to the American people in 2033.
Who is leading the effort to build the monument?
The Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation, a nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit, was charged by Congress in Public Law 116-217 and Public Law 118-226 to design and build the Women’s Suffrage National Monument on the National Mall.
How are women currently represented on the National Mall?
While the Women’s Suffrage National Monument will be the first standalone monument on the National Mall dedicated to American women’s history, there are notable examples of women’s inclusion in the war memorials and presidential memorials currently on the National Mall. For example, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial consists of three elements: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, the Three Servicemen Statue, and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial is a powerful tribute to the 265,000 women who served in the Vietnam War. Additionally, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt appears in statue within the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, represented in her role as the first U.S. Delegate to the United Nations. We are honored to stand alongside the heroic women who served our country during the Vietnam War and trailblazing First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as the first monument on the National Mall dedicated to women’s history.