Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis, along with other Biden-Harris administration officials, historians, museum leaders, conservation leaders, and others gathered today to honor the legacy and contributions of a diverse range of women and girls to our country. They also highlighted the Administration’s efforts to increase the representation of women’s history in sites across America.
During an event with Director of the White House Gender Policy Council Jennifer Klein and Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory, Secretary Haaland announced that the National Park Service (NPS) has launched a new women’s history virtual exhibition titled “Home and Homelands.” This exhibition explores how women have shaped American history throughout the Pacific West by making, claiming, and fighting for their homes. The exhibit features stories of women who are not often recognized for their contributions to our nation.
“The Department of the Interior is committed to telling America’s story, including the invaluable contributions of women throughout our nation’s history,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Since Day One of the Biden-Harris administration, the Department has worked to commemorate the places and spaces that form the physical memory of women’s stories, contributions and legacy.”
The event also highlighted President Biden’s recent Executive Order aimed at strengthening NPS's recognition of women's history. The order included announcements of over $3 million in commitments from both Mellon Foundation and National Park Foundation (NPF) to support its implementation.
“The National Park Service is entrusted with using the power of place to tell the story of our country,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and its vision for equal rights and self-determination, we are committed to sharing a fuller account that includes all voices.”
The new “Home and Homelands” exhibition invites readers to consider how women played a central role in defining "home." It showcases how women have been at the heart of community building, making connections across cultures, fighting against exclusion and for change, and reclaiming their homelands and cultural practices.
The exhibition was developed by Dr. Nicole Martin, a historian specializing in women's and gender history and the American West. It was made possible, in part, by a Women in Parks grant from the NPF.
“National parks across the country share the stories of visionary women — trailblazers who dared to imagine a different future for women,” said Lise Aangeenbrug, Chief Program Officer, National Park Foundation. “We are thrilled to support this new exhibit that will expand visitors' understanding of the role women play in parks and the places they called home.”
During the Biden-Harris administration, the National Park Service has invested more than $19 million in infrastructure and preservation projects for parks commemorating women across the nation. The Department has also awarded $2.1 million in Historic Preservation Fund grants for sites that help tell women’s history.
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