Celebrating Women’s History Month in DC

Before it was a full-month celebration, there was Women’s History Week. In 1978, a group of women in Santa Rosa, California organized a week in March to celebrate and educate others about women’s contributions in the U.S.

During the week of March 8, over a hundred women participated in essay contests, distributed curriculum materials at local schools, and held a parade. The event's success soon inspired women’s groups nationwide to hold similar events, and ultimately evolved into the Congressionally-designated Women’s History Month we know today.

Why We Celebrate in March

The group from Santa Rosa, now known as the National Women’s History Alliance, selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day.

This month’s celebration is also rooted in socialist and labor movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The first Women’s Day on Feb. 28, 1909, honored the first anniversary of the garment workers’ strikes that saw thousands of women take to Manhattan’s streets. On March 3, 1913, thousands of suffragists marched in Washington, D.C., to fight for a woman’s right to vote.

This year’s theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” Here are some ways to celebrate.

🧠 Further Reading and Listening

A Walking Tour of D.C. Women’s History 🎧

The City Cast DC podcast chats with local tour guide Kaitlin Calogera about the role D.C. played in the women’s suffrage movement and where to see their legacy.

We’ve got the inside scoop on which exhibits are must-sees at this newly renovated featuring local and international women artists. There is an International Women’s Day Festival on March 8 and a Free Community Day on March 13. Otherwise, it’s $13 for residents.

🎉 Women’s History Events Around Town