Ohio

From actresses and astronauts to authors and artists, many famous women who were born or grew up in Ohio have made significant contributions to society. Humor columnist Erma Bombeck, famed sharpshooter Annie Oakley, and author Toni Morrison all hailed from Ohio. So did Jerrie Mock, the first woman to fly solo around the world in 1964. Yvette McGee Brown, the first African-American female justice on the Ohio Supreme Court, and Maya Lin, who at age 21 designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, are from Ohio, too.

March is Women’s History Month, a celebration of women’s contributions to culture, society, and history. It’s a perfect opportunity to commemorate these and other trailblazing women who call, or called, Ohio home. What better way to do this than by visiting the attractions that showcase their achievements and legacies?

TourismOhio recommends the following unique and interesting destinations, giving people ample opportunity to explore the rich history of these remarkable women. Several of them are included in the Ohio Women in History Road Trip:

1. Harriet Beecher Stowe House (Cincinnati) — Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” the antislavery novel that fueled the abolitionist movement leading up to the Civil War. Visitors can learn more about her life and legacy at the Cincinnati house where she once lived. Guided tours are available by appointment.
2. International Women’s Air & Space Museum (Cleveland) — With a mission of showcasing the history and culture of women in aviation and aerospace while inspiring future generations, the International Women’s Air & Space Museum is the best place to celebrate women who have reached new heights. Admission is free.
3. Upton House and Women’s Suffrage Museum (Warren) — In 1919, Ohio became the fifth state to ratify the 19^th Amendment and passed a bill ensuring the right of Ohio women to vote in the presidential election in November 1920. The museum’s exhibits explore the history behind the amendment and the struggles it took to achieve woman’s suffrage.
4. First Ladies National Historic Site (Canton) — Located in the home of First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley, the First Ladies National Historic Site features exhibits about the wives of our country’s chief executives and explores how the position of First Lady has changed over time.
5. The Ladies’ Gallery in the Ohio Statehouse (Columbus) — Abigail Adams famously told her husband to “Remember the ladies,” and you can honor that sentiment by visiting The Ladies’ Gallery in the Ohio Statehouse, which pays homage to the first female Ohio legislators who paved the way for women in government and honors all women who have served in the Ohio General Assembly.
6. The National Annie Oakley Center at the Garst Museum (Greenville) — Born and raised in Darke County, Annie Oakley rose to fame through her physical athleticism and ability to excel in a man’s world. Learn more about the first American female sharpshooter at the Garst Museum.
7. Robbins Hunter Museum (Granville) — Victoria Woodhull, once a resident of Licking County, ran for president of the United States in 1872. She was the first woman to ever run for that office. Now, there’s a clock and bell tower in her honor at the Robbins Hunter Museum, which reopens to the public this spring.
8. Oberlin College & Conservatory — Marvel at Oberlin College & Conservatory’s beautiful campus and explore the first college in America to grant undergraduate degrees to women in a coeducational program and the first to adopt a policy to admit students of color. Guided tours are available on a limited basis.