Women's Rights National Historical Park

On the way back home from Virginia, I decided I had a few extra hours that I would be able to stop in Seneca Falls, New York to take in the Women's Rights National Historical Park. It's basically a collection of historical buildings and items related to the struggle that started in the 1800's for the equality of women. On July 19 &20 of 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, MaryAnn Mcclintock, Lucretia Mott, Jane Hunt and Martha Wright organized a convention in just a little over a week's time to bring their grievances public by issuing the "Declaration of Sentiments", a document modeled after the Declaration of Independence, which demanded equal rights for women. Not just the right to vote, but also for the right to own property, keep their wages (by right they were to give their wages to the male head of household), the opportunity to advanced education, and a myriad of other areas.


Lloyd Lillie's sculpture "The First Wave" depicts the women who hosted the convention in Seneca Falls and also of Frederick Douglass, an invited guest. These ladies were active in the abolitionist movement, but also became active in wanting to procure the same rights for women as they were trying to obtain for black men. After all, why should women be excluded?
The ladies hosted the convention

at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel

and it was attended by more than 300 men and women. This was quite the feat to get this many folks to one area in only a few days, and it was the women who lead and spoke at the convention (at this time it was inappropriate for women to engage in public speaking!) and I think nearly 200 attendees signed the Declaration of Sentiments, including some men!

The doors to the church were locked, but I was able to peer in the window, I would think that back in the day, there was probably a balcony, but seemed such a crowded space to have a 2 day meeting with 300 people!

The house of Elizabeth Cady Stanton where she raised her family and fought many years for the rights of women, sadly she died in 1902 and did not live to see the ratification of the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote.

A sculpture by A.E.Ted Aub in Seneca Falls "When Anthony Met Stanton". A beautiful bronze that depicts the 1959 meeting of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Elizabeth's husband, Henry, used to tell her.."You stir up Susan and Susan stirs up the world!". Anthony was also instrumental in women's suffrage and other issues.

A pretty church near the above statue. It was a lovely fall day and it was a nice way to spend a few hours.