Penny Pritzker on the Smithsonian Board of Regents' Decision to Identify Two Optimal Sites for New Museums on National Mall

As the Board Chair of the Advisory Council of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, I am extremely gratified with the decision by the Smithsonian Regents to identify two optimal locations for the building of the American Women’s History Museum as well as the National Museum of the American Latino. This is an exciting and critical step toward securing a place for the important and powerful stories of women on our National Mall.

I am also grateful for the diligent, inclusive, and transparent approach by the Regents in reaching this important recommendation and look forward to working with them, Congress, the American public, and an array of other stakeholders to make both of these vital institutions a reality.

Additionally, I am humbled and thankful for the tireless efforts of the bipartisan leaders on our Advisory Board as well as to those who served on the Congressional Commission and National Women’s History Museum Board for their help getting us to this point. Many of these determined women have been laboring for more than 20 years to see the long-standing and transformative historical and cultural contributions of women more fully recognized and explored. We are in awe of their steadfast commitment to this monumental cause.?

“We know we have much work to do in the weeks and months ahead and look forward to continuing to engage with the many leaders and stakeholders across our country laboring to make the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum a reality.”??

The following is the official news release from the Smithsonian Institution:?

Smithsonian Identifies Two Optimal Sites for New Museums, Final Designations Pending Legislative Action

October 27, 2022?

The Smithsonian’s Board of Regents has narrowed its focus to two potential sites for the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. They are considered the two optimal sites with the greatest potential based on site-selection evaluative criteria combined with stakeholder input.?

The two optimal sites are:?

• South Monument site—undeveloped land across the National Mall from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, on Jefferson Drive S.W., under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service
• Tidal Basin site—undeveloped land bordered by Raoul Wallenberg Place S.W., Maine Avenue S.W. and Independence Avenue S.W., under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service

Legislative action is necessary before the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents can make its final designations.?

Congress authorized the museums in December 2020. Since the enactment of the legislation, the Smithsonian, with the assistance of the engineering/architecture firm Ayers Saint Gross of Baltimore, has undertaken an extensive site-selection analysis and thorough review of more than 25 sites. The legislation states that the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents must designate the two new museum sites by the end of 2022.?