A monument honoring the women’s suffrage movement will be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., marking the first monument dedicated to women’s fight for voting rights. The announcement was shared during the Miami Woman’s Club Monuments and Milestones Breakfast over Valentine’s Day weekend.
The historic women’s organization hosted members of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation host committee, who revealed that two acres of land have been secured for the project. Organizers say the monument represents a major step toward expanding how women’s contributions are represented in the nation’s capital.
“If we ask ourselves that question — what do we want the future to look like for our girls? One answer I would give is that I want her to be able to visit the National Mall and see herself in the American story,” said Anna Laymon, president and CEO of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation. “I want that for my daughters, granddaughters, and every generation to come.”
The breakfast was held Friday, Feb. 13, at the Miami Woman’s Club, drawing members of women’s organizations from across South Florida. Attendees gathered to learn about the monument project, connect with supporters and explore ways to get involved. Organizers say the monument is scheduled for completion in 2033, following five years of advocacy and the passage of two laws authorizing the effort.
“It’s been quite a fight,” Laymon said. “It took five years and many sit-down conversations to explain why women’s stories matter. It was remarkable to me how many people did not see it that way.”
According to foundation leaders, the National Mall currently does not feature a monument solely dedicated to women’s history. Laymon said there are roughly 40 statues on the Mall, including memorials to individual men, military veterans and other figures.
The women’s suffrage movement spanned decades of activism before the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 granted women the right to vote. Advocates say the movement helped lay the groundwork for broader legal and social changes that expanded women’s rights and participation in public life.
“There were barriers put in place to keep all women from voting,” said Batts-Cooley, president of the Miami Woman’s Club. She noted that the broader push for women’s rights led to expanded access to employment, financial independence and legal protections. She recalled hearing stories of women who could not obtain credit in their own names until decades after suffrage was achieved.
The next phase of the monument project focuses on fundraising. Organizers aim to raise $150 million in private, noncorporate donations, saying they want to avoid commercial branding associated with the memorial. Laymon said public response has been strong, noting the donation site raised $8,000 within its first 15 minutes online.
Support for the initiative has also drawn prominent national backing. According to organizers, every woman currently serving in the U.S. House and Senate supports the monument, and all living former first ladies have joined as honorary board members.
The Miami Woman’s Club has taken an active role in promoting the project, hosting both the Monuments and Milestones Breakfast and a Galentine’s-themed happy hour to raise awareness and encourage community involvement.
Laymon and Batts-Cooley said public participation will be essential to bringing the monument to completion.
“The suffragists taught us that change happens when we all work together,” Laymon said. “In fundraising, $1 might not seem like a lot, but it’s a heck of a lot when you and your sister and your mother and your neighbor are all doing it together.”
Organizers say the monument will serve as a lasting tribute to generations of women who fought for political equality — and a visible reminder on the National Mall that their efforts helped shape American democracy.
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