Washington, approved bill to create a Women's History Museum. It will be part of the Smithsonian

The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly (374 votes in favor and 37 against) approved a bill that will establish a new museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, dedicated entirely to women’s history. Should the legislativeprocess be completed, it will be the prestigious U.S. institution’s 20th museum-the most recent of those being the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016. The museum will be called the Women’s History Museum (“Museum of Women’s History”).

The initiative stems from the work of Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney: in fact, the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act (that is the name of the bill) bears her signature. Maloney had been working on a women’s history museum since 1998, but it was not until last year that the groundwork was laid for the legislative process to begin, since previous attempts had failed to come to the attention of the Assembly. The Smithsonian will now have to choose a site for the museum. The U.S. institute already devotes a great deal of attention to women, with exhibitions, research activities, meetings, and initiatives: it even recently published a book entitled Smithsonian American Women and dedicated to objects in the collection related to women.

The next passage of the bill will be in the Senate, and if the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act finds no obstacles, it will be necessary to find the funds for the construction of the building that will house the museum: it will have an area of 32.000 square feet and, the office in charge of congressional spending has calculated, will cost $242 million spread over ten years (while total costs will come to $375 million, split between public funding and incoming contributions from private individuals).

“This museum is important because if we cannot recognize the role of women, we cannot empower them,” said Carolyn B. Maloney. “But women’s histories have long been excluded from textbooks. Out of 2,500 historical monuments across the country, only 5 percent are dedicated to achievements by women. And by observing good examples we can all aspire to change the course of someone’s life. Women and men of all ages deserve to be inspired by the outstanding women who helped shape this nation.”

“For a long time, our nation should have been dedicated to telling the story of American women and the role of women in building and shaping our country,” said Steny H. Hoyer, House Democratic Majority Leader. “I am proud to join Chairman Maloney in supporting the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act, and working to see that it is adopted by Congress. I hope the Senate will follow quickly and the bill can become law.”

“For too long, the contributions that women have made to our country have been overlooked and undervalued,” says Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick instead. “This is unacceptable. Women have contributed to the United States of America since the nation’s founding, and it’s time they get the recognition they deserve. I am proud to stand with my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.”

“American history is not complete without the history of women,” says Jane Abraham, chair of the House Committee on the Museum of Women’s History. “Women’s contributions deserve national celebration and recognition. The history of American women is different. Women span any race, class, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, region, interest. Our current narrative lacks so many stories and points of view. And the Smithsonian, custodian of national history, is the right institution to tell them.”

Pictured: the U.S. House of Representatives.

Washington, approved bill to create a Women's History Museum. It will be part of the Smithsonian

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