Women's History Month

Since the earliest days of English colonization and even earlier among its First Peoples, women have played both starring and storyteller roles. This month, we celebrate those women, both past, present and future.

Join us for a look at the many resources for learning gathered here, visit a historic site or attend a special event honoring Virginia women.

Most importantly, consider the women in your own life and how they enrich the lives of those around them. Appreciate them, thank them, and share their history with your own families.

Spotlight: Gabrielle "Gabby" Douglas

At the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach thrilled audiences and judges, earning gold medals in both the team and individual all-around competitions.

Learn More about Gabrielle Douglas

Honoring Women Veterans

March 16-22, 2025

Women Veterans Week

Virginia’s Women Veterans Program

Mission: Virginia’s Women Veterans Program (VWVP) provides access to community resources to educate, unify, and empower Virginia’s women veterans, who have served in the military in all eras; by ensuring they receive timely yet appropriate transition and benefits support/ employment and education outreach; health and community advocacy.

Visit the Virginia’s Women Veterans Program website

Attractions

These attractions provide great resources for learning more about women's history in Virginia.

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia is one of the oldest agencies of Virginia government, founded in 1823 to preserve and provide access to the state's incomparable printed and manuscript holdings.

Throughout Virginia’s history, women have played important, but often overlooked, roles as educators, entrepreneurs, health care providers, religious leaders, farmers, artists, writers, reformers, pioneers, laborers, and community builders.

The Library of Virginia recognizes and celebrates women’s accomplishments in all walks of life.

Colonial Williamsburg

Whether they were transforming domestic hobbies into successful careers, pounding smoldering metal in blacksmith shops, or shaping the course of the nation, women played important—and unexpected roles—in Colonial Williamsburg.

Visit Colonial Williamsburg this March for special programming as we celebrate and examine the lives and relationships of these women during Women's History Month.

National Museum of Women in the Arts

The National Museum of Women in the Arts is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts.

With its collections, exhibitions, programs, and online content, the museum seeks to inspire dynamic exchanges about art and ideas. NMWA advocates for better representation of women artists and serves as a vital center for thought leadership, community engagement, and social change.

Learning Resources

Check out the resources below to learn more on women's impact on the history of Virginia.

Why March is National Women’s History Month?

As recently as the 1970s, women’s history was virtually an unknown topic in the K-12 curriculum or in general public consciousness. To address this situation, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a “Women’s History Week” celebration for 1978. Click below to learn more how this evolved into "Women's History Month".

Archives Library Information Center (ALIC): Women Archived Resources

The struggle for women to gain acceptance, recognition and equal rights in society has been a long process. In recognition of the contributions of American women, ALIC presents a listing of web sites relevant to women in the United States.

Virginia Women in History

The Library of Virginia recognizes and celebrates women's accomplishments in all walks of life. From 2000 until 2020, the annual Virginia Women in History program honored women of the past and present who developed new approaches to old problems, strove for excellence based on the courage of their convictions, and initiated changes in their communities, state, and nation that continue to effect our lives today.