A National Park for Women's Rights: The Campaign That Made It Happen

by Judy Hart

Overview

A National Park for Women's Rights chronicles a little-known story in American history: the establishment of the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York; the first "idea park" in the National Park system. As told by Judy Hart, its visionary founder and first superintendent, the park's story is one of struggle and perseverance, opposition and solidarity.

Hart narrates the uphill battle she fought to secure the park's location—on the site of the first women's rights convention in 1848—and to gain respect for the idea of a park dedicated to women's rights from 1978, when she first championed its creation to the triumphant moment in 1982 when the park opened its doors, and following years.

Hart's journey highlights the prejudices and resistance that she faced, like other women who have advocated for themselves, their rights, and their place in America. Going behind the scenes of the park's planning and the negotiations, conflicts, and collaborations that shaped the final vision, A National Park for Women's Rights highlights the contributions of Park Service officials, politicians, and interested citizens in Seneca Falls, despite opposition from within and beyond the Park Service.

An inspiration and rallying cry for women (and their male allies) to tell their stories and claim their place in American history, A National Park for Women's Rights also offers a model for public history activism. No matter how daunting the opposition to such acts of historical memory-making are, Hart's experiences remind citizen-activists to dream, organize, and persist.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501771651
Publisher:	Cornell University Press
Publication date:	10/15/2023
Pages:	232
Sales rank:	441,751
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

Judy Hart is Founding Superintendent of the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York. She was also Boston Chief Ranger for Legislation in the National Park Service, and first superintendent of the Rosie the Riveter/WW II National Historical Park.

Table of Contents

1. Women and the National Park Service
2. A Radical Idea for a New Park
3. Our Women Have Made Us Famous
4. Crafting the Legislation
5. Congress Embraces the New Park
6. Liftoff for the Park
7. Alan Alda Opens the Park
8. Stanton House Sheds Her Disguise
9. The Sacred Laundromat
10. Wesleyan Chapel Reimagined

What People are Saying About This

Elizabeth Cobbs

Hart's tale ranges from when female park rangers were still issued mini-skirts to their triumph in securing a national park. Despite freak storms, collapsing walls, bureaucratic ennui, and partisan infighting, they prove Margaret Mead's dictum, 'a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.'

Susan Goodier

In this memoir Judy Hart details her unique accomplishments (and mistakes), highlights victories over obstructionists, and credits supporters in Seneca Falls, Congress, and the National Park Service who helped establish a National Park for Women's Rights in perpetuity.

John Reynolds

The story of a woman who changed the National Park Service's tradition-bound male-oriented views on what and who are nationally significant. Judy Hart shocked the National Park Service into equalizing women's parks and women's roles in running them.

Elisabeth Griffith

Judy Hart's perseverance in pressuring the National Park Service to rescue the remnants of the 1848 women's rights convention equals that of the founding suffragists. Her chronicle is a candid, courageous lesson in civics and self-discovery.

Max Page

The Women's Rights National Historical Park represents a milestone in the history of the National Park Service, by expanding what was considered important to our national story and challenging traditional ideas about authenticity. This is a story that needed to be told – and Judy Hart is the best person to tell it.

Sally Roesch Wagner

A richly detailed and engaging account of how a visionary woman, together with a committed community, allies in the government and sheer luck created the first national women's rights park –changing the National Park Service and suffrage history in the process.