Seneca Falls landmarks face funding challenges
Two landmark institutions, the Seneca Falls Women’s Rights National Historical Park and Women’s National Hall of Fame, fight to preserve the story of the Women’s Rights Movement amid political and financial uncertainty.
As the site of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, the Women’s Rights National Historical Park — or WRNHP — stands as the birthplace of the women’s rights movement.
As the nation debates the role of federal funding and diversity initiatives, park staff have been left uncertain about how to maintain the site’s legacy. Under President Donald Trump’s administration, organizations have been advised to drop diversity, equity and inclusion values, which places this historical landmark’s mission at risk. However, the park continues to voice their goals and share the site’s important history.
Amid changing federal priorities, the institutions preserving Seneca Falls’ history of women’s activism are adapting to this evolving landscape. The WRNHP continues to offer programs and educational initiatives even as national discussions over funding and diversity affect the resources available to historic sites.
Nearby, the National Women’s Hall of Fame — or NWHF — has secured new grants and partnerships to support its mission and maintain its exhibits. Together, the park and the hall of fame are finding ways to honor the legacy of the women’s rights movement while dodging broader policy and funding shifts at the national level.
“The women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls was literally the first major event of both women and men advocating for women’s rights,” Michelle Janelsins, professor of [TKTK] at the University of Rochester, told the News “It was the seed that set off further movements in Rochester and beyond.”
The first ever women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls in 1848, run by activists Elizabeth Candy Stanton and Lucretia Mott. The WRNHP and the NWHF showcase the importance of these women’s struggle for civil rights through historical sites such as the building where the convention took place and exhibits about the early women’s rights movement.
According to the WRNHP’s website, the park aims to “preserve and interpret for the education, inspiration and benefit of present and future generations, the nationally significant historical and cultural sites, structures, and events associated with the struggle for equal rights for women.”
As a nonprofit organization, the National Women’s Hall of Fame receives its funding mainly from private sources rather than the federal government. It relies on donations from individuals, membership fees, and corporate or foundation grants to support its programs and operations. The Hall of Fame also raises money through fundraising events and partnerships with community organizations.
Recently, the Hall of Fame received a grant of 175,000 dollars from the Forward Global Women’s Power & Influence Initiative, which provides grants to organizations with goals toward gender equality. The hall will use this grant to continue its mission of amplifying women’s voices. By combining private support with community involvement, the NWHF continues to celebrate and share the achievements of women who have shaped American history.
The Women’s Rights National Historical Park, on the other hand, is primarily funded through the federal government as part of the National Park Service, or NPS. Most of the park’s budget is derived from congressional appropriations, which support the costs of staffing, building maintenance and preservation of historic sites.
Like many parks, the WRNHP may also receive supplemental funding through grants, partnerships and donations. These resources help the park preserve the legacy of the women’s rights movement and provide public access to their exhibits and events.
“This museum is a critical centerpiece of gender equality that is essential for our culture,” Janelsins said“Its preservation is vital to ensure continued equality for generations to come.”
However, the Trump Administration’s budget plan for 2026 proposes a cut of over $1 billion to the NPS. $900 million of this would be cut from park operations, which includes staffing, maintenance and infrastructure.
This funding cut —the largest in the history of the NPS — would greatly affect the WRNHP. Despite advocating heavily for women’s rights over the past 177 years, it is uncertain how the park will continue to do as much in the future without this funding.
The Seneca Falls Women’s Rights National Historical Park had 33,691 visitors in 2024.
This article was written for the Yale Daily News’ 2025 Summer Journalism Program for high school students.