The Smithsonian commemorates Women’s History Month in March with a series of family-friendly events, film screenings and activities presented by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and museums around the Smithsonian. All events and exhibitions are free unless otherwise noted. Some events require advance registration.
Events
On Art and History: Black Art Legacies at HBCUs
Oprah Winfrey Theater, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
Tuesday, March 3; 7 p.m.–8 p.m.
This evening panel discussion complements the museum’s current exhibition, “At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs,” exploring the artistic heritage and evolving future of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) alongside other key centers of Black cultural preservation.
This conversation will highlight the collections, key figures and institutional histories that underscore the universities’ roles as enduring hubs of American artmaking, collecting and exhibition.
Janet Dees, assistant director of arts at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, will moderate the discussion. The exhibition’s companion publication will be available for purchase courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises. Registration is required.
Thursday, March 5; 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
50th Anniversary of Wonder Woman with Lynda Carter and Patty Jenkins
Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall
Presented by Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum
For generations, Wonder Woman has been a symbol of strength and possibility. From comic stories that highlighted real women in history to the cultural phenomenon of the television series, she has left a lasting mark on popular culture—shaping how audiences understand courage, leadership and personal agency. Featuring a conversation with actress and museum advisory council member Lynda Carter and director and screenwriter Patty Jenkins, this program examines the real-world impact of the “Wonder Woman effect” and the lasting influence of this iconic figure over the past 50 years. Registration is required.
Friday, March 13; 6 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Author Talk with Alexandra Sellassie Antohin, author of “The Covenant’s Veil”
Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, Sylvia Williams Gallery, Level 1
Heran Sereke Brhan, deputy director of the National Museum of African Art, will talk with Alexandra Sellassie Antohin, author of The Covenant’s Veil—Ethiopian Orthodox Tradition of Elaboration (Fordham University Press, 2024). The book explores how contemporary Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity preserves and protects sacred ideas and relationships. Antohin is an anthropologist and educator. Her expertise in community-based qualitative research and her commitment to heritage advocacy enhance her role in supporting cultural institutions and educational initiatives. A book signing will follow the talk. Registration is recommended.
History Film Forum: “Finding Edna Lewis”
Thursday, March 19; 7 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Warner Bros. Theater, Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
The museum’s History Film Forum presents the Emmy-winning Finding Edna Lewis with producer and host Deb Freeman. From Freetown, Virginia, to New York City, Edna Lewis carved a remarkable path. She introduced many Americans to the Southern cooking of the Black community in rural Virginia that raised her. For the documentary, Freeman interviewed chefs, farmers, cookbook writers and family members whose approach to food was profoundly shaped by Lewis. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Freeman and Joanne Hyppolite, Assistant Director for Culture in the Office of Curatorial Affairs, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Registration is required; tickets are $15.
Film Screening: “Mother of Snow Cranes”
Saturday, March 21: 2 p.m.–4 p.m.
Meyer Auditorium, Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Gallery of Art)
Co-presented with the Embassy of Finland and the Environmental Film Festival, the National Museum of Asian Art will screen Mother of Snow Cranes, with director Iiris Härmä and producer Visa Koiso-Kanttila. The documentary details the extraordinary life of Ellen Vuosalo, known as the “mother of snow cranes” for dedicating her life to protecting the Siberian cranes that winter in Iran. Vuosalo spent over five decades on conservation, ornithology and local environmental initiatives. Härmä’s film is a stirring portrait of this strong, adventurous woman. The Finnish film was released in 2024; 75 minutes; in English and Persian with English subtitles. Registration is required.
Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon: Amplifying Women’s Voices on Financial Independence
Monday, March 23; 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Zoom
Join the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum for a Wikipedia edit-a-thon focusing on women connected to “We Do Declare: Women’s Voices on Financial Independence,” an oral history project exploring when and how women have advanced their economic independence over the past 50 years. Participants will edit existing Wikipedia entries and create new articles using a curated worklist of women who helped change laws, contributed new research, created new networks and, ultimately, bolstered economic independence for women. New editors are welcome and will receive an introduction to Wikipedia editing led by Ariel Cetrone of Wikimedia DC. Register on Zoom.
Exhibitions
Docent-led tours of exhibitions highlighting women in the arts
Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (Sackler Gallery)
Every day in March; 2 p.m.–3 p.m.
This one-hour tour with docents highlights women’s untold stories in the art world, including contributions of women as artists, subjects, patrons and collectors.
“We Do Declare: Women’s Voices on Independence”
Online Exhibition
Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum
“We Do Declare” explores when, how and why women have sought independence in their own lives through the lens of economic power over the past 50 years. The project documents the history of women’s financial independence in the U.S. through firsthand accounts from women, including Jacki Zehner, founder of SheMoney and the youngest woman and first female trader to be made a Goldman Sachs partner; Karen Nussbaum, former director of the United States Women’s Bureau and co-founder of 9to5, which inspired the 1980 film by the same name; and La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of W.K. Kellogg Foundation, among others.