Lighting the Way for All

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution recognizing some women’s right to vote. The public art project Lighting the Way for All is commemorating the centennial, honoring the unfinished legacy of the women’s suffrage movement, and celebrating historic women who forged the path and lit the way for us all.

For this project, we chose 10 civically engaged women from the main Lighting the Way project, and asked local students to tell the stories of these historic women through 10 inspiring videos.

You voted! You and thousands of others who voted online selected educator Marial Harper (1934-2016) and community leader Jennie Horne (1920-1998) to be the subjects of a public artwork created by artist Alyn Carlson.

Attendees joined us online for the unveiling on August 13 during AHA! New Bedford. Whaling Museum President and CEO Amanda McMullen and Director of Education Christina Turner were joined by Lee Blake, President of New Bedford Historical Society; Lighting the Way for All artist Alyn Carlson; and Aurienne Dembitzki and Carol Heath, descendants of the women being honored.

Watch the video profiles of Marial and Jennie and the other eight women!