Women's Rights National Historical Park - Seneca Falls, NY - Home of the First Women's Rights Convention

Established in 1980, the Women's Rights National Historical Park consists of approximately 6.83 acres of land and is located in Seneca Falls, New York. The first Women's Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls in 1848. The first convention was initiated by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and four other women. They invited the public to the convention. One hundred people attended the first convention and made a commitment to work towards improving the quality of life for women. The Women's Rights National Historical Park is a tribute to this first convention and the commitment made there.

The park is home to four major historical properties. One of these properties is the Wesleyan Chapel, which was the actual site of the First Women's Rights Convention. The M'Clintock House, the Richard Hunt House, and the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House are also located within the park.

The Elizabeth Cady Stanton House was the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It is located at 32 Washington Street, and it is now used as a museum. In 1965, it was declared a National Historic Landmark.

The Richard Hunt House was built around 1830. It is a brick home that has two stories. The home has a distinctive portico and four columns. This house was the home of Jane Hunt, one of the women involved in the First Women's Rights Convention. In the 1920s, the dwelling was renovated. In 1980, the Richard Hunt House was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

From 1836 to 1856, the M'Clintock House was home to Thomas M'Clintock and his wife, Mary Ann M'Clintock. Mary Ann M'Clintock was another one of the women involved in the First Women's Rights Convention. The home is a Federal-style brick house with two stories. This dwelling was where the Declaration of Sentiments for the first convention was drawn up on July 16, 1848. In 1980, the M'Clintock House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can tour the M'Clintock House during the summer from Thursday through Sunday.

One of the results of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 was the creation of the Votes for Women History Trail. This trail is located in the park and is administered by the Department of the Interior. The Votes for Women History Trail is a route for automobiles that points out sites in the upstate region of New York that were important to the establishment of women's suffrage. Some of the sites located along the trail include the Women's Rights National Park itself, the M'Clintock House, the Susan B. Anthony House, Mount Hope Cemetery, and the Antoinette Louisa Brown Blackwell Childhood Home.

Park rangers offer interpretive programs that explain why the first convention was held in Seneca Falls. In addition, rangers lead tours of the Wesleyan Chapel on a daily basis. There is no charge for admission to the park, and the grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. With the exception of some holidays, the park's Visitor Center is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily. Statues of some of the female suffragists are located throughout the park. A self-guided audio tour is available by calling 315-257-9370.

Additional information about the Women's Rights National Historical Park can be obtained by calling Visitor Information at 315-568-0024. Park Headquarters can be reached by calling 315-568-2991.