WASHINGTON 鈥� A monument honoring 400 years of women’s achievements throughout the Commonwealth is coming to the Virginia State Capitol grounds.
The Virginia Women鈥檚 Monument: Voices from the Garden will feature and a glass wall of honor with the names of many more of Virginia鈥檚 notable women.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e not necessarily the most important women or the most famous women, by any means,鈥� said Sandra Treadway, librarian of Virginia.
Those who will be represented by the bronze statues were included to provide a cross section of Virginia鈥檚 women, she says.
鈥淔irst, to represent all time periods in Virginia history, from the very earliest Colonial periods up through the 20th century,鈥� Treadway said.
She noted the 12 women were selected 鈥渢o reflect the geographic areas of Virginia, and also from different backgrounds to show the diversity of women鈥檚 experiences鈥� and the roles and contributions they鈥檝e made to Virginia.
Former Virginia first lady Susan Allen said that many of the women represented by these statues managed to achieve a lot while living through difficult circumstances.
鈥淚 think it speaks to the tenacity of women, no matter what their role in life is, to be able to make the world better,鈥� Allen said.
鈥淣ow, for visitors to be able to hear even more of the wonderful story of the Commonwealth, the enriched story brought to life by these statues of these 12 women, it’s just so exciting,鈥� Allen said.
This monument is breaking another type of ground for Virginia.
鈥淚t will be the first monument to women鈥檚 achievements on state capitol grounds anywhere in the United States,鈥� said Kathy Spangler who directs Virginia鈥檚 2019 Commemoration,.
American Evolution will remember 1619 as a key anniversary in Virginia history, which included recruitment of English women to the colony in larger numbers.
See a of the proposed monument courtesy of the Virginia Women’s Monument:
