You know the National Mall. Lincoln, Washington, MLK. All the usual suspects. Now, thanks to the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, you can add five more virtual monuments to the list. Because apparently, that's where we are now: history, but make it augmented reality.
The museum just launched "Unhidden Heroines," an AR project that lets you point your phone at the National Mall and suddenly, poof! A digital monument to a pivotal woman appears. It's like Pokémon Go, but for incredibly important historical figures who finally get their due.
History, No Hard Hats Required
Starting June 18th, you can virtually rub shoulders with five women who helped shape the last 250 years of American history. And these aren't just random historical footnotes; these are women whose stories deserve a spotlight bigger than, well, a virtual monument.
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- Julia Ward Howe: The poet behind “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Yes, that one.
- Polly Cooper: An Oneida cook who kept the Revolutionary Army fed. Because armies, apparently, also run on stomachs.
- Mary Katharine Goddard: The publisher who put her name on the first official signed Declaration of Independence. Take that, Founding Fathers.
- Elizebeth Smith Friedman: A codebreaker who made the bad guys' lives miserable in two World Wars. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying.
- Dorothy Height: A civil rights activist whose impact is still felt today.
Each digital heroine is strategically placed next to a more… established monument. Dorothy Height appears by the MLK Memorial, for instance. Julia Ward Howe pops up near Lincoln. And Mary Katharine Goddard, the woman who literally published the Declaration, gets to hang out with Thomas Jefferson. Because, of course.
Visitors can scan a QR code to bring these women to life. Whether you're physically on the Mall or just virtually strolling from your couch, you can learn about their backgrounds and their often-overlooked connections to the big names. It's a clever way to remind us that history isn't just a boys' club, even if some museums are still taking their sweet time getting built.
Speaking of which, Congress greenlit the American Women’s History Museum back in 2020. It's expected to take a cool $375 million and "at least 10 years" before an actual building opens. So, until then, grab your phone. These heroines are ready for their close-up, no construction permits required. The project runs until December 31, marking the end of America’s 250th birthday year. Let that satisfying number sink in.
