In honor of National Women’s History Month falling during Spring Break, we thought we would combine the two and give you a historical way to spend your vacation. Road trip to the historic sites of these remarkable women who have spent their lives working to change the world we live in and make it a better place not just for women, but for everyone. Time to hit the road!

Susan B. Anthony House

Our first stop is the Susan B. Anthony House in Rochester, New York. Susan was one of the important advocates leading the way for women’s rights to be acknowledged and instituted in the American government. She was a pioneer in the fight for Women’s Rights, formed the National Woman’s Suffrage Association, and was the first woman to have her picture on an American coin (the silver dollar).

Eleanor Roosevelt

A little south of Rochester, Hyde Park, New York is home to Val-Kill, the National Historic Site dedicated to the former first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. She was the longest living first lady in the U.S. and was even called “First Lady of the World” due to her work on behalf of human rights. She advocated for expanded roles for women in the workplace, the civil rights of African Americans and Asian Americans, and the rights of the World War II refugees. She also served as the first chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights and oversaw the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Elizabeth Blackwell

Although she was born in England, Elizabeth Blackwell was raised in New York. She started her career as a teacher but later found her love for medicine. Elizabeth became the first woman physician in the United States, pioneering the education of women in medicine in the U.S. and was prominent in the then emerging women’s rights movement. In 1857 she founded the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, and then the Women’s Medical College in 1867. Before leaving New York, head to the Brooklyn Museum to see an artistic display done in Elizabeth’s honor.

Rosa Parks

Now let’s head down South and visit the infamous “Bus Stop” plaque located at Dexter Avenue and Montgomery Street in Montgomery, Alabama. This is where civil rights activist Rosa Parks got on the bus where she refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger and was eventually arrested. This led to a city-wide boycott on the day of her trial and lasted for over a year. Most of the estimated 40,000 African-American commuters living in Montgomery opted to carpool or walk to work—some walked as far as 20 miles. This act helped launch nationwide efforts to end segregation at public facilities. To learn more about this important time in history, visit the Rosa Parks Library and Museum while in Montgomery.

Amelia Earhart

Lastly, let’s head to the Midwest, specifically to Atchison, Kansas.This is the hometown of Amelia Earhart. The actual home where Amelia was born is now the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum and is maintained by The Ninety-Nines, an international group of female pilots of whom Amelia was the first elected president. Amelia was also a member of the National Woman’s Party, an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, was the first woman aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences. During an attempt to literally fly around the world in 1937, Amelia disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean near Howland Island. The fascination and inspiration surrounding her though, has lived on.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this cross-country road trip and learned something about these incredible women along the way. Keep us in mind when planning your next vacation and take a look at our available timeshares in your favorite vacation destinations.