Uncover the fascinating history of trailblazing women at eight intriguing field trip destinations that will inspire generations of learners
By Makenzie Smith, Contributing Writer
Imagine students stepping into the very footprints of trailblazing women, feeling a deep connection with the past where history, innovation and inspiration collide. They can learn to code in the same labs as generations of Spelman alumni. Young girls can sit where Rosa Parks once sat, learning not just history but feeling it while connecting with the courage of women who came before. Across the Southeast, women’s history comes alive at museums, landmarks, and historic campuses; these sites offer more than education–they offer transformation.
Rosa Parks Museum (Montgomery, AL)
Troy University holds one of the best women’s history sites in Alabama and, perhaps, the nation. The Rosa Parks Museum is located at the site of Parks’ arrest after refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white man during the height of segregation, a defiant action that eventually led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. As the country’s only museum solely dedicated to this female Civil Rights activist, visitors will hear the voices of those who fought for freedom–including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.–and learn about segregation, racial injustice, and the role of women during the Civil Rights Movement. A trip to this museum will act as an immersive time machine where visitors meet a lot of engagement that includes:
- Rosa Parks’s original fingerprint arrest record
- 1950 Montgomery bus
- Cleveland Avenue Time Machine to the 1800s Jim Crow era
- Court Documents
- Restored 1955 station wagon
Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum (Holly Springs, MS)
Watch your students become transfixed by the life of the renowned civil rights and women’s activist at the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum. As one of only two female founders of the NAACP, she is considered a “crusader for justice” –a strong and empowering title for young minds to be inspired by on a school trip celebrating women. Within the historic Spires Bolling House in Mississippi, students may encounter:
- African American family heirlooms and artifacts
- Ida B. Wells-Barnett’s personal memorabilia and awards
- The Local Genealogy Room
- The Ida B. Wells Family Art Gallery
Bartow History Museum (Cartersville, GA)
The Bartow History Museum is a refurbished 1869 courthouse nestled within the historic downtown of Cartersville, home to Bartow County’s rich southern history. This is an ideal place for students to explore local history in a way that brings the broader scope of the world into meaningful perspective. To dig even deeper, students must learn from the perspectives of women. The “Homefront, Battlefront” field trip experience is a dynamic 75-minute journey where 5th graders won’t just learn about the battles of World War II–they will uncover the powerful, often untold struggles from the home front. Visitors will explore how the war reshaped everyday life, especially for the women who stepped up to hold their families together, enter the workforce, and support the war effort from thousands of miles away. Here, students do not just admire the brave warriors from battle but also the invaluable heroes from home. The “Homefront, Battlefront” experience provides the specific curriculum standards of:
- The Effects of The Great Depression and the New Deal on American People (SS5H3)
- America in World War II (SS5H4)
Etowah Indian Mounds (Cartersville, GA)
A trip to the Etowah Indian Mounds State Park offers students a unique opportunity to explore the most intact Mississippian culture site in the region and gain a deeper understanding of the matrilineal traditions that shaped Native American societies. Far beyond the limits of a textbook, walking the grounds where the Muskogean-speaking tribes lived from 1000 A.D. to 1550 A.D. allows students to uncover the essential roles women played–not only in domestic life but also as influential figures in agriculture, spirituality, and social structure. Through exploration of ceremonial sites, artistry, food and medical practices, and burial mounds, students come face-to-face with a women’s history site in Georgia where female contributions were central to sustaining the community. A group tour tailored towards the vital role of Native American women will be matched with lessons and visiting areas that encompass tribal life, such as:
- 6 Earthen Mounds
- Village sites
- Nature Trail of cultural landscape
- 15-minute Native American documentary
- Ranger-led programs on the tribe’s daily life (fishing, hunting, agriculture)
The visit also highlights show modern efforts are being made to honor and preserve this legacy, with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources affiliated with the Muscogee Nation, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, and Kialegee Tribal Town. This immersive experience encourages students to appreciate the diverse complexity and richness of southeastern Native American cultures while recognizing the vital role of women throughout that history.
John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown, NC)
Tucked away in evergreen hills and rich forest of Brasstown, the John C. Campbell Folk School may carry a man’s name, but its foundation and growth beat with the legacy of women. Olive Dame Campbell, the wife of John C. Campbell, along with her friend Marguerite Butler, were the true driving forces behind the school’s creation. Inspired by the philosophy of “The Living World,” the school emphasizes communal learning through open discussion rather than competition or grades. Strongly influenced by Appalachian culture, the Folk School became a hub for preserving traditional crafting techniques and tools from mountain life. During World War II, women in the area moved beyond the traditional support roles. They began carving wood themselves, breaking gender norms and leaving a lasting legacy in the artisan community. Many of the classes offered now include:
- Basketry
- Clay
- Blacksmithing
- Metalwork
- Soapmaking
- Spinning
- Woodworking
- Instrument making
- Weaving
- Leather
- Quilting
The types of classes one can take at this century-old art school go even beyond the list above. However, all participants must be 18 years or older and register around six months in advance. Demonstrations in weaving and blacksmithing are offered to those under the age requirement. The school also has a summer program called “Little Middle” where those ages 7-17 can participate in hands-on crafting programs. This program offers activities like:
- Basket weaving
- Gourd Fairy Houses
- Felt making for kids
- Woodturning
Spelman College (Atlanta, GA)
It is never too early to lead young women towards a fruitful future with purpose and possibility. A tour of Spelman College, one of America’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for women, offers more than just a tour–it is a powerful glimpse into a legacy of sisterhood, excellence, and empowerment in action. An institution where Black students are not the minority, but the heartbeat of the campus, allows young women everywhere to witness firsthand the beauty of representation and the strength of shared identity. A visit to Spelman College may include encountering:
- Campus with historical landmark status
- STEAM session
- A Day in Your Life
- Junior Preview Day
Campus tours are available to book online. This experience is tailored chiefly towards upperclassmen, but many young students can find the advantage of embarking on a historic women’s colleges tour–especially one with great scholarship opportunities.
Pauli Murray Center (Durham, NC)
Head to the Pauli Murray Center in Durham for an enriching women’s history field trip experience. Among Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray’s many life accomplishments, being a founder of the National Organization for Women is undoubtedly at the top. The bright historical figure fought for the word “sex” to be included in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make sure sex discrimination was unconstitutional, in addition to racial discrimination. Murray even coined the term “Jane Crow” to describe the specific oppression Black women faced. As a figure who fought vigorously for human rights across all fronts, Murray is a central figure in the history of Black women activists and LGBTQ+ history. All their accomplishments through their education and written words make this location the perfect literary women’s site in North Carolina. A specialized Women’s History Month tour on Pauli in the women’s movement is offered occasionally at the museum, so make sure to be on the lookout for that posting.
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum (Savannah, GA)
Girl Scouts of the USA has a long lineage of sisterhood and leadership–one that officially started on March 12, 1912. Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout troop in historic Savannah, GA. This group of women has now reached 2.5 million members–a true testament to the power of every girl, and you can learn about it at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum. Not only was Low born at this location, but she also resided there when she made the phone call that started it all. A visit to this museum will reconnect Girl Scouts with their roots and the history that is woven and nourished through each member. School field trips are also welcome at this museum, aiming to ignite appreciation and awe of female groups and empowerment in boys and girls of all ages. School programs at this National Landmark align with the following grade levels and subject units:
- 2nd Grade: Georgie Leaders
- 4th Grade: Civil War and Reconstruction
- 5th Grade: Citizenship, The Changing Nation, and World War I
- 8th Grade: The New South and the 20th Century
- U.S. History: Expansion and Reform and World War I
Instead of piecing together scattered brushstrokes from your textbooks, experience the full portrait of women’s achievements by visiting the places where history was made and is preserved.
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