Seneca Falls in Seneca County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Women's Rights National Park
Photographed By Jason Voigt, June 13, 2023
1. Women's Rights National Park Marker
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Women's Rights National Park. . Welcome to one of the few national parks dedicated to a social reform movement - Women's rights. Here in Seneca Falls and Waterloo, in living rooms and on front porches, in private and in public, a group of five women started a movement that would transform American society. , In 1848, those five women summoned reformers from across the northeast to the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls. For two days, as many as 300 women and men considered the role of women in a democratic society. They emerged with the Declaration of Sentiments - a document that shaped a reform movement for decades to come. Indeed, it continues today., Women's Rights National Park includes the Wesleyan Chapel and the homes of some of the movement's organizers - places where radical thought turned into enduring improvement for millions across the world., With Lightning Speed , Though hundreds of miles from major east-coast cities, Seneca Falls' industrial prominence gave it easy access to the outside world. Railroads, the canal, and turnpikes carried flour, textiles and pumps from Seneca Falls throughout the nation. The organizers of the First Women's Rights Convention hoped those same networks would spread word of the convention and its reform ideas around the globe. They did. In 1851, the Earl of Carlyle introduced in the British House of Lords the very first resolution in favor of women's voting rights. but ideas proved easier than actual change. Achieving women's suffrage would take seven decades in America, eight in Great Britain., ... a revolution now cannot be confined to the place or people where it may commence, but flashes with lightning speed from heart to heart, from land to land, til it has traversed the globe... , Frederick Douglass, July 7, 1848
Welcome to one of the few national parks dedicated to a social reform movement - Women's rights.
Here in Seneca Falls and Waterloo, in living rooms and on front porches, in private and in public, a group of five women started a movement that would transform American society.
In 1848, those five women summoned reformers from across the northeast to the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls. For two days, as many as 300 women and men considered the role of women in a democratic society. They emerged with the Declaration of Sentiments - a document that shaped a reform movement for decades to come. Indeed, it continues today.
Women's Rights National Park includes the Wesleyan Chapel and the homes of some of the movement's organizers - places where radical thought turned into enduring improvement for millions across the world.
With Lightning Speed
Though hundreds of miles from major east-coast cities, Seneca Falls' industrial prominence gave it easy access to the outside world. Railroads, the canal, and turnpikes carried flour, textiles and pumps from Seneca Falls throughout the nation.
The organizers of the First Women's Rights Convention hoped those same networks would spread word of the convention and its reform ideas around the globe. They did. In 1851, the Earl of Carlyle introduced in the British House
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of Lords the very first resolution in favor of women's voting rights. but ideas proved easier than actual change. Achieving women's suffrage would take seven decades in America, eight in Great Britain.
... a revolution now cannot be confined to the place or people where it may commence, but flashes with lightning speed from heart to heart, from land to land, til it has traversed the globe...
Frederick Douglass, July 7, 1848
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is July 7, 1805.
Location. 42° 54.638′ N, 76° 48.01′ W. Marker is in Seneca Falls, New York, in Seneca County. Marker is at the intersection of Fall Street (New York State Route 414) and Mynderse Street on Fall Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Seneca Falls NY 13148, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. Women's Rights National Park Marker as seen facing west from in front of the Chapel
Photographed By Yugoboy, February 21, 2013
5. "Restored" Wesleyan Chapel
Several years ago, the chapel was comprised of what few slabs of wall that still stood, a roof and support beams. Due to the weather of Western New York, the decision was made to reconstruct the outer walls of the chapel and incorporate the remaining portions of wall into the new structure. The current building occupies the same footprint as the old, but is designed to last many years. It is open, with displays and other artifacts for people to tour and enjoy.
There is also a stage, and events are occasionally held here as well. At the re-dedication ceremony a re-enactor read the entire Declaration of Sentiments.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, August 28, 2019
6. Women's Rights National Park
Photographed By Larry Gertner, August 28, 2019
7. Women's Rights National Park
The waterwall, engraved with the text of the "Declaration of Sentiments".
Photographed By Steve Stoessel, April 16, 2017
8. Women's Rights National Park Marker
Photographed By Steve Stoessel, April 16, 2017
9. Women's Rights National Park Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2013, by Yugoboy of Rochester, New York. This page has been viewed 600 times since then and 8 times this year. Last updated on December 18, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos:1. submitted on June 23, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 2. submitted on July 27, 2018. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 10, 2013, by Yugoboy of Rochester, New York. 6, 7. submitted on December 18, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 8, 9. submitted on January 31, 2020, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.