American Women's History Initiative facts for kids

The American Women's History Initiative (AWHI) was started by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. in 2018. This special project aims to find, study, teach, and share the amazing stories of American women. It helps us learn about their important achievements throughout history.

Why Was the Initiative Started?

In 2016, a group called the American Museum of Women's History Congressional Commission gave a report to the U.S. Congress. This report said that America needed a museum just for women's history. It talked about what the museum should show, where it could be, and how it would get money.

The Commission believed that American history is not complete without including women's stories. So, they suggested starting a Women's History Initiative inside the Smithsonian Institution. This was seen as a first step towards building a permanent museum. The report also laid out a clear plan for how the museum could be built within the Smithsonian's museum area.

In 2020, Congress officially created the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum.

What Does the Initiative Do?

The American Women's History Initiative has its own experts called curators. These curators create special programs and exhibitions to highlight women's history. The initiative also plans to offer mentorship programs within the existing Smithsonian museums. This means experienced people can guide others.

AWHI focuses its research on the many different and often untold stories of American women. This includes women from every race, social class, background, religion, and part of the country. They want to make sure all women's experiences are included.

Since it began, the American Women's History Initiative has shown exhibitions both online and at museums. Some examples include:

• "Her Story: A Century of Women Writers" at the National Portrait Gallery.
• "Girlhood: It's Complicated" at the National Museum of American History.