Only 6% of monuments in the country are dedicated to women. Take a virtual tour with us around New York City with us to uncover some histories and their impact in their community.

The first stop on the tour is a mural dedicated to women in the Bronx. Aida Miro created  “Tribute to Women and Diversity” based off of her interactions with real women in the neighborhood she painted in. This mural rests on the corner of 145th street and Jackson Ave and is hailed as a colorful addition to the community, reflecting “the diversity of age and ethnicity of the neighborhood” and honoring the women that shape the well-being of the people on Jackson Ave. 

The next stop on the tour jumps to Harlem on 122nd street between St. Nicolas Ave and Frederick Douglass Blvd. The “Swing Low: Harriet Tubman” Memorial rests in the middle of a small plaza. The monument tells the story of Harriet Tubman and her struggle for freedom through her quilted dress of all the “anonymous passengers” of the underground railroad. The monument was designed and sculpted by an African American woman named Alison Saar. 

On the west side of Manhattan on 72nd street in Riverside Park a statue of Eleanor Roosevelt stands. The artist Penelope Jencks honors the legacy that Eleanor Roosevelt had on the social and political climate of New York City during the 1920’s and 30’s. This monument sits near the river and is a reminder to all that human rights is for everyone to uphold, not just a select few. 

As we make our way down the borough of Manhattan, we have to stop at the first monument in Central Park dedicated to real women titled,“Women’s Rights Pioneer Monument.” This monument depicts Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Elizabeth Cady- Stanton, women’s rights activists in conversation. The sculpture was unveiled in 2020 near 68th street and created by Meredith Bergman for the centennial celebration of the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote.

Moving towards the Queens, the Queens Museum has a mural up on the outside of its building honoring trans-women painted by Glori Tuitt. The mural titled “Black, Trans, & Alive (Qweens Song)” is a part of a series where Tuitt has honored and brought trans identities to the forefront in her work. 

Lastly we end our tour in Brooklyn at another mural honoring the sacrifices of single mothers in Boerum Hill between 3rd ave and Bergen Street. Set in the Jeremiah Program’s office, “Community is Accountability” represents the plethora of single mothers that Jeremiah’s Program serves and to send the message that single mothers are the backbone of this Brooklyn neighborhood and that they deserve to be honored. This mural was spearheaded by Groundswell with the lead artist being Mimi Ditkoff.

The design of our public spaces should reflect the rich diversity of NYC, and offer a place everyone can see themselves in.