This is pretty cool. The House of Representatives recently passed a bipartisan bill (HR 1700) that would set the stage for a National Women’s History Museum to be built on the National Mall. It now moves to the Senate. The House passed HR 1700 on a voice vote, and in previous years similar legislation died there, so I dare to be optimistic about this bill’s chances in the Senate.
From the National Women’s History Museum website:
This bipartisan bill (H.R. 1700), re-introduced by Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), will allow NWHM to purchase – at fair market value – land next to the National Mall and build the first major repository of women’s accomplishments and contributions in Washington, D.C. The Senate companion bill will be re-introduced by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) shortly.
The sale of this land involves federal property and must be approved by Congress.
The National Women’s History Museum Act offers a viable opportunity for NWHM to secure a permanent physical space to house the collections that it plans to make public and further its educational services. The new location at 12th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW is across the street from several of the nation’s most iconic museums, such as the National Air and Space Museum, the National American History Museum and the National Gallery of Art. It’s the right place for a comprehensive museum on women’s accomplishments.