Women's History Month in Champaign-Urbana

Celebrating Women’s History Month as a community in Champaign-Urbana

The month of March is designated as Women’s History Month and we have some resources for those who are interested in learning more

March is Women’s History Month around the country, and we know that organizations in Champaign-Urbana offer a variety of events and commemorations following this theme.

Local connections

During Women’s History Month, we are frequently reminded of the long struggle for women to gain the right to vote. This story played out locally as well as nationally. In June 1919, Illinois was among the first states to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would abolish gender-based barriers to voting when it finally became official in 1920.

For years, women have stopped by 19th-century activist Susan B. Anthony’s grave in Rochester, N.Y., to put their “I Voted” stickers on her headstone. There is a plaque in downtown Champaign marking where Anthony gave a speech in 1870 (on “Work, Wages, and the Ballot”). This marker has more recently served as a gathering point when locals have wanted to mark an occasion or issue of significance to women.

Susan B. Anthony marker in downtown Champaign — Susan B. Anthony marker near the corner of North Neil and East Main Streets in downtown Champaign. (chambanamoms photo)

But women’s history encompasses far more than the history of expanding the right to vote. Besides participating in civic discourse, how can we honor Women’s History Month?

We can visit museums or historical sites that preserve and retell stories of women, whether locally or elsewhere. We can read books — from libraries or even from women-owned bookstores — about women and by women authors. We can learn about or hear from significant women in our local community. And we don’t have to stop visiting, exploring, or learning when March is over.

Here are several local organizations whose calendars often offer events relating to women’s issues, from history to today:

Museum of the Grand Prairie
Champaign County History Museum
The League of Women Voters of Champaign County
The American Association of University Women (Champaign-Urbana branch)
YWCA of Champaign County
Women & Gender in Global Perspectives (and other programs at the University of Illinois)

Local events

Have a women’s history event to add? If it’s for families, please submit it to our calendar.

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

International Women's Day Celebration

Levis Faculty Center Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
The Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity and the Humanities Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign host the campus celebration of International Women's Day with "12 Women Who Changed the World: Untold Stories". International Women's Day takes place annually on March 8th. The format of this…

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Women in Robotics with Ctrl-Z

Spurlock Museum of World Cultures Time: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Come learn about robots and the important women who shaped the field with FRC Team 4096 Ctrl-Z. Alongside Frisbee Bot, the frisbee-throwing robot, visitors will explore the ins and outs of FIRST Robotics Competition robots while also learning about women who profoundly influenced them.

We will continue to add to this list, so please check back during the month of March.

We love to support woman-owned small businesses in Champaign-Urbana! Read about some of the ones we know about.

Do you know of a woman (or women) owned small business we may want to feature? Email editor@chambanamoms.com with suggestions.