National Women’s History Museum Pursues Site
Bordering the Mall

Due to a sequence of events, a lot at 12th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW in Washington, DC became available in June 2008.  This lot is one block West of Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building and across the street, on the edge of the Mall. NWHM moved quickly to get legislation introduced directing the General Services Administration (GSA) to sell the lot to NWHM. 

NWHM urges representatives to co-sponsor this bill and vote for passage of this legislation providing this site as the permanent home for the National Women’s History Museum. (See below to write to your member of Congress.)

Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced the bill, H.R. 6548.  Original co-sponsors are Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

This is the third site that NWHM has pursued in the last few years.  It is not unusual in Washington for it to take many years for a museum to find a home.  The African American Museum sought a location for more than 100 years before winning their site a couple of years ago!  NWHM hopes that the third time is a charm and that its efforts to secure this new site move quickly.

Besides its prestigious location, this site allows NWHM to design its own signature building.  No more renovation or restoration of another building!  This is exciting because it can reflect our mission but also from the perspective that we can make it “green” which will help reduce energy requirements and lend a helping hand to future generations maintaining the building.  This is what women do! 

In addition, experts estimate the lot will accommodate a 300,000 sq. ft. building – twice the size of Arts and Industries.  And all of this at half to three-quarters the costs of renovating that building.   

Provisions of the Legislation:

• The National Health Museum previously had legislation introduced in the House and Senate providing them the 12th Street and Independence Avenue lot.  The bill passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in the 109th Congress and had 29 co-sponsors on the companion House bill.  Political obstacles prevented it from moving forward.

• The Health Museum announced in early June 2008 that it was moving to Atlanta, GA.

• The Health Museum legislation is being introduced with only a change in name so that NWHM could purchase the property.

• The bill provides that NWHM will pay fair market value for the property as determined by an appraiser.

• The property consists of northern and southern portions – the northern portion (on Independence Avenue) will be dedicated and conveyed to the Museum for 99 years.  Conveyance of the southern portion will be subject to negotiations with the General Services Administration.

• One or both portions of the property must be conveyed within three years and construction on the Museum must begin within five years.

URGE CONGRESS TO CO-SPONSOR AND SUPPORT H.R.6548

To send an email or letter to your member of Congress, click here.

Please send any questions or comments to letterstocongress@nwhm.org.

 

 

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National Women's History Museum
Administrative Offices
205 S. Whiting Street Suite 254
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-461-1920
info@nwhm.org

Copyright © 2008 National Women's History Museum.