Celebrate the Bible and Women’s History

Women have played critical roles at every point in the Bible’s history—in the pages of its stories and as figures in its journey across the globe and into the present—and they will no doubt play important roles in its future. Throughout the month of March, the museum will be sharing some of the stories of women whose lives have intersected with the Bible. Some of these stories will be told at the museum, while others can be explored online. Make sure to plan your visit to the museum this March to take advantage of it all.

At the Museum

Did You Know? Series

Throughout the month, we’ll be hosting a series of interviews and performances focusing on artifacts in the collections and important figures in women’s history.

Impacting Communities: Women in the Archives

March 3 at 1:00 p.m.

Join members of the Curatorial Department to discover how Museum of the Bible amplifies women’s voices and where you can find these voices throughout the museum!

“Hidden Figures”: Dorothy Vaughan and Women in STEM

March 10 at 1:00 p.m.

Join exhibit developer Christy Wallover to discuss the impact of the Bible on NASA scientist and AME missionary Dorothy Vaughan.

Julia Ward Howe

March 17 at 1:00 p.m.

Join Dr. Anthony Schmidt as he discusses Julia Ward Howe and the biblical imagery in her famous hymn, Battle Hymn of the Republic.

“Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold”: How Early Modern Jewish Women Studied the Bible

March 24 at 1:00 p.m.

In eastern Europe in the early modern period, Jewish women were, for the most part, not taught to read or understand Hebrew. Join curator Jesse Abelman as he talks about a Yiddish adaptation of and commentary on the Hebrew Bible called, Tze’enah u-Re’enah (Go Forth and Behold), that was one of the most popular ways women gained access to the text of the Bible during this period.

Virtual Docent Engagement—Gallery Talk

Elisabeth Elliot Exhibition Talk

March 31 at 1:00 p.m.

Join Lead Curator of Art and Exhibitions Amy Van Dyke to discuss our newest exhibit on missionary Elisabeth Elliot.

Travel Back in Time with Our Living History Interpreters

Throughout March, our living history interpreters (LHI) will be performing as historical figures from some of the most prominent moments in women’s history. Make sure to meet these time travelers during your visit this month to the museum! Performances are at 2:00 and 2:30 p.m. on March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31.

Scripture and Science Exhibition, Floor B1
Caroline Herschel and Maria Sibylla Merian

Impact of the Bible, Floor 2
Harriet Beecher Stowe

“Five Women Impacted by the Bible” Tour

March 8, tours begin at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.

Join us to walk through the lives of five women impacted by the Bible. Led by Director of Education Sandra Argo, we will dive deep into Harriet Beecher Stowe, Julia Smith, Mahalia Jackson, St. Josephine Bakhita, and Florence Nightingale, engaging with the intersections between femininity and faith. Tours start outside the Bible in America exhibit on Floor 2.

Sign up at the Ticketing counter when you arrive at the museum.

Self-Guided Tour: Women at Museum of the Bible

Wondering where the ladies are throughout the museum? Stop by the Education Maker Space on Floor B1 to receive your self-guided tour! This tour will lead you throughout the museum, highlighting just a few of the incredible women represented by Museum of the Bible’s archives and collections.

Education Station

Fridays and Saturdays

Join us at the Education Station on the Floor 4 to complete activities about women impacted by the Bible and women in the Bible! 

Through Gates of Splendor: The Elisabeth Elliot Story

Opens March 30

In a new “Personal Stories” exhibit, Museum of the Bible will explore the life of Christian missionary Elisabeth Elliot. In 1958, Elisabeth Elliot returned to the Ecuadorian rainforest to live with the tribe who had killed her husband only two years earlier. Her choice to forgive, rather than retaliate, sparked a change in the Waodäni, who left behind a cycle of violence to embrace a life of love. Elliot’s remarkable story rippled across the globe, inspiring millions to serve God through missions. Come explore the life and legacy of Elisabeth Elliot.

Online Engagement

Museum of the Bible Magazine

Read about Corrie ten Boom, who survived the horrors of the Holocaust, and the way she studied her Bible, or about “Hidden Figure” Dorothy Vaughan and her commitment and service to the AME church.

The Book Minute

Every Monday in March, we’ll be releasing a story about the Bible in women’s history. Sign up today to receive them in your inbox, or check back each week to catch the latest here.