Congress designated March as Women’s History Month in 1987, as a national period to observe and celebrate the contributions women have made in the history of the United States. Pay homage in March by exploring several sites around the city that honor some of these great female leaders, whose impact reaches throughout Atlanta and beyond.
Margaret Mitchell House
As a philanthropist and celebrated author of “Gone with the Wind,” Margaret Mitchell is certainly a local and global legend. Her bestselling novel led to a Pulitzer Prize and, of course, the 1939 movie adaptation of the same name, which is considered to be one of the most successful films of all time. Visitors of the Margaret Mitchell House are invited to explore the apartment where Mitchell wrote her famous novel. Guided tours, which begin every 30 minutes, reveal more about the author’s life as a rule-breaker, trailblazer, businesswoman, advocate for African American education and one of Atlanta’s most famous natives.
Starting at $5.50. Margaret Mitchell House, 979 Crescent Ave., NE, Atlanta. 404.249.7015, atlantahistorycenter.com/explore/destinations/margaret-mitchell-house.
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“Any Great Change” exhibit at Swan House
Make plans to visit the Atlanta History Center’s exhibit, “Any Great Change: The Centennial of the 19th Amendment.” Marking the 100th year anniversary of the right for women to vote (which was ratified Aug. 18, 1920), the exhibit celebrates the suffrage movement with a collection of photos, documents, memorabilia and interactive voting stations. Furthermore, the exhibit, which is displayed in the Swan House, also highlights Georgia’s hometown connections to the movement; the original Swan House owners, Emily C. MacDougald and her daughter, Emily Inman, were active suffragettes in the local efforts.
Starting at $9. 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta. 404-814-4000, atlantahistorycenter.com.
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“Women in Stem” exhibit at the APEX Museum
Discover a few lesser-known narratives within black history—from the ancient advancements of pre-colonized Africa to the nationally-recognized prominence of Atlanta’s very own historic Sweet Auburn district. And among those stories, find the permanent “Women in Stem” exhibit at Atlanta’s APEX museum. Here, you’ll learn the names and achievements of several African American women who made significant contributions in the science, technology, engineering and math fields. Learn about scientists like Alice Augusta Ball (who developed a revolutionary treatment for leprosy) and pioneer mathematicians like Euphemia Lofton Haynes (who became the first black woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics).
Starting at $5. 135 Auburn Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-523-2739, apexmuseum.org.
Coretta Scott King at the King Center
Though the center was established by Coretta Scott King in 1968 to honor the work of her husband Martin Luther King, Jr., the King Center also highlights Mrs. King herself, as a partner in the historic quests toward civil rights and as a torchbearer of global human rights long after her husband’s death. Offering free admission, guests are invited to celebrate the Kings’ legacies and view their crypts over the King Center reflecting pool.
Free. 449 Auburn Ave., NE, Atlanta. 404-526-8900, thekingcenter.org.
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Spelman College and Agnes Scott College
Founded in the 1880s, these two all-women universities provided rare higher learning opportunities for women at the time. Both Agnes Scott College, a liberal arts school, and Spelman College, a top HBCU, have since become iconic metro-Atlanta institutions, graduating everyone from Pulitzer Prize winners and Rhodes Scholars to CEOs and political leaders. Learn more about these schools, their history and notable alumni with a visit to the webpages of each school. Then dig deeper with a visit to the Agnes Scott College’s McCain Library and Noble Heritage Center, and contact Spelman’s welcome center for tour information.
Call for tour requests and visitor’s hours. Spelman College, 350 Spelman Lane SW, Atlanta. 404-681-3643, spelman.edu; Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur.. 404-471-6000, agnesscott.edu.
Jackson Fine Art gallery’s “30 Years of Women”
Examine the works of world-famous photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Dorothea Lange, and Atlanta-born artists Jeannette Montgomery Barron and Meghann Riepenhoff. The Jackson Fine Art gallery, a woman-owned business, currently features its "30 Years of Women" exhibit, which includes photos by the aforementioned names along with additional incredible images from other leading female visual artists.
Free entry. 3115 East Shadowlawn Ave., Atlanta. 404-233-3739, jacksonfineart.com.
Rosa Parks “Continuing the Conversation”
Take an introspective approach to honor Women’s History Month with a visit to the Rosa Parks artwork on Georgia Tech’s campus. Titled “Continuing the Conversation,” the sculptures feature two versions of Rosa Parks—her younger self at the time of the now-famous bus segregation protest, which sparked a movement, and the elderly Parks, after a long, successful career as a civil rights activist. The two Parks sit on opposite benches facing each other, and guests are invited to sit on the third bench in between both figures and engage in thought and conversation. Take a moment this month to join in that dialogue, reflect on the achievements of these historic women pioneers, and envision a future of what may be.
Georgia Tech Campus, Harrison Square, Atlanta. gatech.edu.
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