The Women's Museum
Encyclopedia
The Women's Museum: An Institute for the Future is a museum located inside Fair Park
in Dallas, Texas
(USA
), covering the subject of American
women's history. The Women's Museum's 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) building provides a home for programs and exhibits where people can honor the past and explore the contributions of women throughout history.
The idea of the museum was originally conceived by Cathy Bonner in 1996. Wendy Evans Joseph was chosen to be the design architect. She was previously senior designer for the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
. Exhibition design by Whirlwind Creative. The museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, opened September 29, 2000.
The mission of the Women's Museum is to inspire, educate, and stimulate their audience through the exploration of the successes, experiences, contributions and potential of women.
On October 5, 2011, the museum announced it will close on October 31, 2011 due to lack of funds.
“The Spirit of the Centennial” is a fifteen feet tall statue that depicts a young woman rising from a cactus. This symbol is fitting for not only the Texas Centennial Expectations but for the museum as well.
By the early 1990’s, the building was in total disrepair, being unusual and unsafe.
However, it wasn’t until the founder, Cathy Bonner, came to Dallas in 1996 where friends at Fair Park introduced her to the building. The women coming out of the cactus at the front was all it took to know that this would be the home of the Women’s Museum. They transformed a 20th century treasure into a 21st technological marvel.
The first major project, Texas Women’s History Project, grew from an innocent question posted in 1974 by an eight year old girl. While attending the Institute of Texan Cultures Museum she asked her mother, “But where are all the women.”
This sparked an interest in the mother to collaborate with the women’s resources to investigate the nature of women’s participation in the development of Texas. This resulted in Texas Women’s History Project and the museum exhibit, Texas Women - A Celebration of History, which toured throughout Texas in 1980 and 1981. This display is now on permanent display at Texas Woman's University.
The Texas Women's History Project culminated in 1997 when the supplemental video/study guide educational package, From Gutsy Mavericks to Quiet Heroes: True Tales of Texas Women, was distributed to all Texas public schools.
The Institute for the Future offers hands-on computer-based programs in a fun and interesting environment. A fast-paced, specialized curriculum provides math, science and computer technology skills. The Museum's professional team works with well-trained volunteer mentors to create and deliver a broad range of creative and enriching programs. The Institute is a living laboratory for research of learning strategies and teaching techniques. In addition to activities in the computer lab, educational offerings include lectures, films, tours and teacher and school programs.
Under the Institute for the Future, the Women's Museum will offer a series of programs, workshops, and enrichment activities designed to help adolescent girls from 11-17 develop and sustain a strong sense of self. All programs have been created to help our participants:
Fair Park
Dallas Fair Park is a recreational and educational complex located in Dallas, Texas . The complex is registered as a Dallas Landmark, National Historic Landmark and is home to nine museums, six performance facilities, a lagoon, and the largest Ferris wheel in North America...
in Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), covering the subject of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
women's history. The Women's Museum's 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) building provides a home for programs and exhibits where people can honor the past and explore the contributions of women throughout history.
The idea of the museum was originally conceived by Cathy Bonner in 1996. Wendy Evans Joseph was chosen to be the design architect. She was previously senior designer for the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Exhibition design by Whirlwind Creative. The museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, opened September 29, 2000.
The mission of the Women's Museum is to inspire, educate, and stimulate their audience through the exploration of the successes, experiences, contributions and potential of women.
On October 5, 2011, the museum announced it will close on October 31, 2011 due to lack of funds.
History
This building was built in 1910 by C.D. Hill, which served as Fair Park first coliseum building. It was used for livestock auctions by day and musical theater performances by night. In 1936 this building was renovated and used as an administrative building for the Texas Centennial Expectations. The building was then used to complement the Art Deco facilities and they even added new art deco facade on the south face of the building.“The Spirit of the Centennial” is a fifteen feet tall statue that depicts a young woman rising from a cactus. This symbol is fitting for not only the Texas Centennial Expectations but for the museum as well.
By the early 1990’s, the building was in total disrepair, being unusual and unsafe.
However, it wasn’t until the founder, Cathy Bonner, came to Dallas in 1996 where friends at Fair Park introduced her to the building. The women coming out of the cactus at the front was all it took to know that this would be the home of the Women’s Museum. They transformed a 20th century treasure into a 21st technological marvel.
Foundation of Women's Resources
This foundation is a national, non-profit, educational organization dedicated to improving the personal and economic professional status of women and girls through projects and programs.The first major project, Texas Women’s History Project, grew from an innocent question posted in 1974 by an eight year old girl. While attending the Institute of Texan Cultures Museum she asked her mother, “But where are all the women.”
This sparked an interest in the mother to collaborate with the women’s resources to investigate the nature of women’s participation in the development of Texas. This resulted in Texas Women’s History Project and the museum exhibit, Texas Women - A Celebration of History, which toured throughout Texas in 1980 and 1981. This display is now on permanent display at Texas Woman's University.
The Texas Women's History Project culminated in 1997 when the supplemental video/study guide educational package, From Gutsy Mavericks to Quiet Heroes: True Tales of Texas Women, was distributed to all Texas public schools.
The Ronya Kozmetsky Institute for the Future
"Technology is a great friend to women. It will allow women to change the way we do business and raise our children in the next century." Ronya KozmetskyThe Institute for the Future offers hands-on computer-based programs in a fun and interesting environment. A fast-paced, specialized curriculum provides math, science and computer technology skills. The Museum's professional team works with well-trained volunteer mentors to create and deliver a broad range of creative and enriching programs. The Institute is a living laboratory for research of learning strategies and teaching techniques. In addition to activities in the computer lab, educational offerings include lectures, films, tours and teacher and school programs.
Under the Institute for the Future, the Women's Museum will offer a series of programs, workshops, and enrichment activities designed to help adolescent girls from 11-17 develop and sustain a strong sense of self. All programs have been created to help our participants:
- Learn critical thinking skills
- Acquire a stronger appreciation for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
- Increase leadership & communication skills
- Expand their appreciation for history, arts & culture
- Discover new & exciting career pathways for emerging leaders
- Discuss effective leadership strategies
- Participate in self-esteem workshop