Women’s History Month in March is a great opportunity to reflect on the contributions of women throughout history and to celebrate their achievements, resilience and ongoing impact.
In Tennessee, there are countless ways to honor and commemorate the accomplishments of women past and present. Join us as we explore some meaningful ways to celebrate Women’s History Month in the Volunteer State.
WOMEN’S SPORTS HISTORY TOUR – Statewide
Photo Credit: Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Nashville Sites created a 10-stop, self-guided and narrated driving tour across the state that includes information about coaches, athletes and leaders who helped expand women’s sports in Tennessee. The stops include Pat Summit, a University of Tennessee – Martin athlete and the legendary coach of the Lady Vols, along with swimming phenomenons, Tracy Caulkins Stockwell and Alex Walsh, world-class sprinters, Wilma Rudolph and Chandra Cheeseborough, and Sarah Fuller, the Vanderbilt soccer star who became the first woman to score in a Power 5 football game.
Learn more about this tour and each of its stops here.
TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM – Nashville, TN
Photo Credit: Tennessee State Museum
Touring the permanent exhibitions at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville offers visitors insights into the struggles and achievements of Tennessee women that have shaped history.
The Forging a Nation Gallery tells the stories of different women throughout the state’s history, including Cherokee farmer Martha Clingnan, First Lady Sarah Childress Polk and Jenny Blow Washington, an enslaved woman from Robertson County. Visitors can also see artifacts like a women’s suffrage banner and learn about the key roles of Tennesseans in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in the Change and Challenge Gallery. This exhibit only scratches the surface at the women’s history available to explore at the Tennessee State Museum.
Learn more about the museum and its exhibits here.
TINA TURNER MUSEUM – Brownsville, TN
Photo Credit: Tina Turner Museum
Visit Brownsville, Tennessee, and step inside the restored Flagg Grove school where you’ll find a collection of Tina Turner memorabilia.
This one-room schoolhouse was once attended by Anna Mae Bullock (a.k.a Tina Turner) and built by her great uncle in 1889. Today, once inside, you’ll find a collection of Turner’s prized possessions, including costumes, gold records and other artifacts that showcase the Queen of Rock’s life. Museum visitors will also experience Turner’s last concert while exploring the exhibit.
Click here to learn more about the world’s only Tina Turner Museum.
BEECHCRAFT HERITAGE MUSEUM – Tullahoma, TN
Photo Credit: Beechcraft Heritage Museum
The Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, Tennessee, dives into the history of the earliest aviation in the U.S., with exhibits on Walter H. Beech, founder of Beech Aircraft Company, the Wright Brothers and women in aviation. Louise Thaden was an American aviation pioneer, holder of numerous aviation records and the first woman to win the Bendix Trophy Race in 1936, beating racing professionals and military aircraft in a one-day flight from New York to Los Angeles. She was also the mastermind behind the idea to establish the museum.
Learn more about Louise Thaden at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum and visit the Louise Thaden Library exhibit, featuring artifacts honoring Thaden’s aviation career.
BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER – Chattanooga, TN
Photo Credit: Bessie Smith Cultural Center
The Bessie Smith Cultural Center was established to honor the “Empress of the Blues” Bessie Smith. Visitors can explore photographs and memorabilia that help tell her story and show the impact she had on the music industry. The center is also home to the Bessie Smith Performance Hall and Chattanooga African American Museum.
Learn more about the Bessie Smith Cultural Center here.
