Tribute trips: Celebrating Women’s History Month near our NY offices – The Martin Group
Every year, the March designation as Women’s History Month gives us all the opportunity to celebrate the tremendous accomplishments of women and how their feats have shaped our world today.
But for those looking for a state full of destinations and dynamic figures that tell the most colorful story of the advancement of women, New York is the place to be.
The state boasts birthplaces, historical sites, and museums that tell stories of patriotism, suffrage, and sports heroics. This is a locale that raised leaders, roiled action, and fomented movements, ones that frayed and remade the fabric of our country. There are lessons to be learned from one end of New York to the other—and thankfully, The Martin Group has offices a short drive away from many of the Empire State’s most cherished women’s history spots.
For those looking for a significant place or two to enhance your appreciation for women’s history, follow the below directions and descriptions to some of our favorite nearby stops.
Destination: Buffalo History Museum
Distance from our Buffalo office: 4 miles
The state’s Queen City boasts plenty of historical women—from the first professional female architect in the U.S. (Louise Blanchard Bethune) to Lauren Belfer, the best-selling author of City of Light. But this month, those curious about how many consequential Buffalo-born women earned their education can visit the museum’s detailed exhibit about Buffalo Seminary. The all-girls institution has been an educational cornerstone in the city’s Elmwood Village since 1851 and has continued to prepare young women (like Belfer, ’71) from diverse backgrounds to be engaged scholars and citizens.
Destination: Susan B. Anthony Museum
Distance from our Rochester office: 18 miles
Known as the Great Reformer, Susan B. Anthony is the most identifiable figure of the Suffragist Movement, which led to the passage of the 19th Amendment—enshrining the right of women to vote—in 1920. Her former Rochester home was once headquarters of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and was also the site of her arrest for illegally voting in 1872. Today, the site is a National Landmark that celebrates her many sacrifices for the generations of women who’d follow her to the polls and is open for tours six days a week.
Destination: The Women’s Club of Albany
Distance from our Albany office: 17 miles
This Capital District destination was found in 1910 as a civic organization to benefit women, children, and the overall conditions of the City of Albany. The club’s all-female leadership pushed for big reforms concerning fire protection, garbage, and food inspection over its first 90 years. After reviving its purpose in 2004, the historic organization—still in its original 1895 headquarters—has continued its mission of leaning on the expertise and ideas of its female-led coalition to support the well-being and cultural enrichment of women and children across the region.
Destination: Alice Austen House
Distance from our NYC office: 16 miles
Alice Austen was one of the earliest and most prolific female photographers in the U.S., capturing a changing New York City at the turn of the 20th century and leaving behind a 7,000-photo catalog. Those interested in her creative work—as well as her significant role in LGBTQ+ history—can visit her preserved 1800s Victorian Gothic cottage on Staten Island and feel her spirit still alive and well. Visitors can view exhibitions of Austen’s pioneering historic photographs and of contemporary photography, or take part in a wide range of cultural programs for the public.
Bonus destination: National Women’s Hall of Fame
Distance from our closest office (ROC): 40 miles Finally, for those who’d like to witness the greatest swath of impact across education, politics, science, or sports, the Seneca Falls museum features the stories of generations of American luminaries. From Louisa May Alcott’s toil on the formative literature that became “Little Woman” to Tenley Albright’s acclaim as the first U.S. woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating, visitors can enjoy a truly exhaustive scope of achievements from women who laid the foundation for real change—and enabled the many voices who’ve since followed in their footsteps.
If you want to learn more about the experience, hobbies, and tastes of The Martin Group, click here.
