The National Women’s Hall of Fame announces the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition Voices and Votes: Democracy in America will be on view from July 12 to August 23. The exhibition is part of the Museum Association of New York’s humanities discussion series “A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy.” The National Women’s Hall of Fame will use the Smithsonian exhibition as a launching point to explore, reflect on, and share the story of the role of women in the evolution of American democracy.
The exhibition and start of the “A New Agora for New York” program series will be unveiled with a ribbon cutting and ceremony on July 12 to open the Hall’s second-floor exhibition space to the public for the first time. The most recent phase of restoration and renovation work at the Seneca Knitting Mill includes the addition of an elevator and internal stairwell to provide access to the upper floors. As additional funding is secured, the Hall will prepare to have work completed on the third and fourth floors of the Mill.
The Hall was founded in 1969 to honor the achievements of great women and uses the stories of its Inductees to inspire people of all genders and ages. Achievements of honorees span the arts, athletics, business, education, government, humanities, philosophy, the sciences, and so much more. The Hall moved to its current home in the historic Seneca Knitting Mill in 2020 and
continues work to restore this iconic building that rests of the banks of the Cayuga-Seneca canal with views of the Wesleyan Chapel and other historic landmarks within the women’s rights
movement.
“The opening of this exhibition is the perfect way to celebrate the new space with displays that speak to the heart of Hall’s work to tell stories often overlooked or left out of American history,” said Museum & Community Relations Manager, Nellie Ludemann.
“The Seneca Falls Convention was the first formal gathering held to discuss the social and civil rights of American women, and it’s considered the beginning of the women’s rights movement.
We are thrilled to uphold this legacy by bringing the Agora project to Seneca Falls. Through our humanities discussion series, we hope to provide a space where community members can reflect
on the remarkable achievements of American women and their profound contributions to American democracy.” said Agora Project Fellow, Ren Lee.
Those interested in attending the July 12 exhibition opening and ribbon cutting from 4 pm to 6 pm are asked to RSVP at womenofthehall.org/july12
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