Trust for Public Land Statement on the Biden Administration’s Monument Designations and National Historic Landmarks

Trust for Public Land released the following statement from Dr. Jocelyn Imani, Senior Director of Black History and Culture, regarding the Biden Administration’s designation of National Monuments and National Historic Landmarks that uplift the legacies of women leaders:

“The Biden Administration’s designation of women-centered National Monuments and Historic Landmarks represents a powerful step toward preserving women’s history and advancing equity in public lands. These sites celebrate the transformative contributions of trailblazing women, including Black women and LGBTQ+ leaders, whose legacies have often been overlooked in our nation’s historical narrative.”

Among the newly designated landmarks, three honor Black women’s vital contributions:

• The Charleston Cigar Factory in South Carolina highlights the courage of Black women who led pivotal strikes in 1945-1946 for better pay and against racial and gender discrimination, marking a key moment in labor rights history.
• The Lucy Diggs Slowe and Mary Burrill House in Washington, D.C., honors Lucy Diggs Slowe, Howard University’s first dean of women, and Mary Burrill, a playwright and teacher. Together, they championed educational equity and civil rights. This site is also significant to LGBTQ+ history.
• Azurest South in Virginia celebrates Amaza Lee Meredith, a pioneering Black woman architect who shaped mid-20th century design and broke barriers in a field where Black women were vastly underrepresented.

The Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle, Maine, honors the groundbreaking achievements of the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet. Additionally, the Furies Collective House in Washington, D.C., reflects the contributions of LGBTQ+ activists who advanced the women’s movement by addressing questions of identity, relationships, and equity. The Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth House and Studios in New Mexico honors the creative legacy of 20th-century Realist painter Henriette Wyeth.

These designations come at an important time when it is vital to ensure that the full breadth of our shared history is preserved and celebrated. Recognizing and protecting sites tied to Black, LGBTQ+ and Women’s history highlights the resilience and contributions of those who fought for equity and justice, ensuring their stories are not lost.

At Trust for Public Land, we are committed to ensuring public lands reflect the diversity of our nation’s stories and communities. By amplifying voices that have historically been excluded, we create opportunities for reflection, connection, and progress. Our Black History and Culture Initiative advances this mission by ensuring Black communities are at the center of creating and preserving outdoor spaces that honor their stories, foster connection, and deliver vital health, climate, and other community benefits. From historic landmarks to community parks and green spaces, we work to make public lands places of healing, equity, prosperity and inspiration for generations to come. To learn more, visit tpl.org/bhac.

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, and raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.