SALEM, MA. — Salem Maritime National Historic Site will host an open house reception on June 8 from 5-7 p.m. to celebrate the installation of the exhibit, A Tower of Strength: Black Women of the Suffrage Movement at the Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center (located at 2 New Liberty Street, Salem). The exhibit will be on display June 1 – July 16, Wednesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
“We are excited to partner with the North Shore Juneteenth Association on this exhibit that highlights the fundamental importance of voting rights to democracy and the central role of these changemakers in the story of our nation,” said Jennifer Hardin, superintendent of Salem Maritime and Saugus Iron Works national historic sites. “This exhibit offers park visitors a way to engage with this crucial piece of our nation’s history and its ongoing impact in our society.”
“This exhibit shines a light on Black women who worked tirelessly to ensure Black Americans and all Americans would be able to exercise the right to vote,” said Nicole McClain, president and founder of North Shore Juneteenth Association, Inc. “Despite how innovative they were despite the many hats they wore, despite the countless movements they created and pushed forward, many of us do not know who they are or that we enjoy the fruits of their labor today.”
The exhibit highlights eight Black women who played an important role in the passage of the 15th and 19th Amendments. While often excluded from organizations in the fight for universal suffrage, their contributions were critical in obtaining these rights for all. The creation of this exhibit by the North Shore Juneteenth Association brings to light the significance of each of these eight women.
NPS
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