Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument

On By nationalparkswithtIn District of Columbia
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DC Trip 2024➤

Our congressman came through with tickets to visit the White House in October of 2024. So my husband and I took a long weekend to visit Washington, DC. He hadn’t been to many of the sites, so we spent a few days visiting the various National Park Service units. We toured several memorials, monuments and other sites, including Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument.

Belmont-Paul➤

After the History on Foot tour concluded, we walked across town to the Belmont–Paul Women’s Rights National Monument, adding another chapter of American history to our day as we moved from Civil War–era Washington to the fight for women’s equality.

Belmont–Paul Women’s Rights National Monument preserves the historic home of the National Woman’s Party and tells the story of the long fight for women’s equality in the United States. Built in 1800, the house later became a headquarters for suffragists led by Alice Paul, who organized protests, marches, and acts of civil disobedience that pushed women’s rights into the national spotlight. From this location, activists coordinated efforts that helped secure the passage of the 19th Amendment, and the building continued to serve as a center for advocacy throughout the 20th century. On our ranger-guided tour, those stories brought the house to life, connecting individual rooms to pivotal moments in the movement.

The interior details add another layer to that history. Sunlight filters through stained glass in the entryway, while an elegant chandelier hints at the building’s earlier life as a private residence. A hallway lined with busts of women involved in the equal rights movement serves as a powerful visual reminder of the many voices behind the cause. One of the most striking views looks up the stairwell, where a statue of Joan of Arc stands in the foreground—a symbol long embraced by suffragists for her courage and conviction. Together, these spaces reflect both the personal sacrifices and the collective strength that shaped the fight for women’s rights.

2024 DC Trip Posts➤

Location: 144 Constitution Ave, Washington, DC
Designation: National Monument
Date designated/established: October 12, 1977
Date of my visit: April 12, 2016

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