Landmarks of American Women's History

Grade 5-8–Miller gives readers a better understanding of women's history by introducing important locations and examining women's lives in the context of these historical settings. Each chapter describes a site that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beginning with Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, built in 1325, the author describes the Native American women who lived there, highlighting their roles as builders and heads of households. Continuing chronologically, she includes lesser-known places such as St. John's Freehold in St. Mary's City, MD, where Margaret Brent went before the provincial assembly in 1648 requesting the right to vote. The Boardinghouse at Boott Cotton Mill in Lowell, MA, provides information about the young women who worked in the textile industry. Other landmarks include the Wesleyan Chapel at Seneca Falls, NY (the site of the first women's rights convention); the M. Carey Thomas Library at Bryn Mawr College; and the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, CA, designed by Julia Morgan. Fact boxes for each locale contain a photograph, contact information (including Web sites), and a summary of its significance. Period black-and-white photographs and maps appear throughout, as do quotes from primary sources. Information on related sites is also included. This clearly written book is a gem for research.