WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEXSTAR) — A new national monument honoring the women’s suffrage movement has been approved for the National Mall, marking the first time the decades-long fight for women’s right to vote will be permanently commemorated on America’s most prominent public landscape.
The National Capital Planning Commission approved the project earlier this month, clearing the way for the Women’s Suffrage National Monument to be built in Constitution Gardens, near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and steps from the Reflecting Pool. The monument will span approximately 2.5 acres.
The National Mall attracts more than 25 million visitors annually, and supporters believe that the new monument will help tell a more comprehensive story of American democracy.
“Our hope is that we build something that honors our foremothers and equally inspires future generations to continue in that pursuit of a more perfect union,” said Anna Laymon, president and CEO of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation.
Laymon said the approval comes after four years of advocacy that included the passage of two bills and support from every living former first lady, as well as numerous women’s organizations across the country.
“We wouldn’t have gotten to this point if the women of this country hadn’t stood beside us and said, ‘This matters,’” Laymon said. “These were women who were fighting for equality, who were fighting for full personhood in a democracy.”
With the site now approved, the foundation’s next step is selecting a design. Laymon said the group plans to begin accepting design submissions next year. No timeline has been announced for the completion or unveiling of the monument.
“We have big plans for next year,” she said.
The monument will be funded entirely through private donations. Organizers say they hope the finished memorial will educate visitors and inspire future leaders.
Laymon said the project is also deeply personal.
“I have a daughter who is five, and when I get to bring her to this, that is going to be an extraordinary moment,” she said. “Saying, ‘Look, we did something, and it matters, and you matter.’”
More information about the project and how to contribute can be found on the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation’s website.
