History of the Women's History Walk

The History of the Women's History Walk

In February 2017 Nikki Graves Henderson of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation realized that there were no official Falls Church City events for Women's History Month. She envisioned an event to highlight local women's history and to bring people together across racial, ethnic, ethnic, political and religious lines. Foundation board member Dr. Beverly Pittman suggested that the event be health conscious and encouraged walking, then secured funding from the American Council on Exercise. Vice president Irene Chambers suggested highlighting the accomplishments of women from the past like Harriet Foote Turner, who led 12 enslaved people to freedom in Canada by posing as their owner. Foundation Board member Rebecca Tinner Stotts suggested that this event was the perfect opportunity to bring local churches and generations of deeply rooted family descendants together with the broader community.

Nikki met with Sarah John, M.D. (who, with AAUW Chapter President Kristan McMahon, secured event funding) and with Marybeth Connelly, who garnered the support of the elected women of Falls Church including fellow Council members Letty Hardi and Karen Oliver, Treasurer Jody Acosta, and School Board members Erin Gill and Margaret Ward, and the group was off and running.

The Falls Church News-Press, Falls Church Police Department, Delegate Marcus Simon, along with Council members David Tarter, Phil Duncan, David Snyder and Planning Commissioners Lindy Hockenberry and Melissa Teates were all involved on the day of the Walk. 

The first year, the decision was made to celebrate deceased women at the stations along with four living Honorary Grand Marshals. The signs were homemade on brightly colored cardboard, re-using yard sign stands.

The weeks prior to the walk, Nikki was out of town and the walk was coordinated from 700 miles away by Marybeth Connelly with support from volunteers Deb Roth and Mary Kneiser.

The route of the walk included a start at the foot of Tinner Hill and a finish at the Falls Church Community Center, where numerous community groups set up tables to promote their organizations.

The second year of the Women's History Walk (2018)  Nikki and Marybeth expanded the circle further to include several teens and women making a difference in their communities right now. Theresa Twiford become involved as a volunteer, along with new School Board member Shannon Litton. The Girls Scouts helped out and set up tables.

The Route of the Walk changed with a starting point at City Hall, and finish at The Tinner Hill Historic Site.  At the end of the walk, a recognition ceremony for all honorees capped the day with festivities and family. Nikki improved the signs by having maroon backgrounds printed for the yard signs, and a matching Women's History Walk banner printed. 

The third year of the walk (2019) was a chilly March day. The route ended at Cherry Hill Farmhouse with a Suffrage reenactor waiting out front to share history.  Participants and Grand Marshals were asked to wear white as the suffragists had done, and Grand Marshals received a purple sash. The Falls Church Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution got involved as well. Cecily Shea and Sally Ekfelt were willing volunteers on the day of the walk, and almost got blown away with a balloon bouquet. 

After the 2019 walk, other women in the community became involved and wanted to share their knowledge of women's history beyond the day of the walk. They started the Women's History Group, with the ambitious goal of recording oral histories, and celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage. Beth Hahn spearheaded the oral history project and Sally Phillips did extensive research in the Mary Riley Styles Public Library Local History Room. 

The fourth year of the walk (2020)  coincided with the 100th anniversary of Suffrage. In Fall 2019, the Women's History Group set up a booth at the Falls Church Festival to share photos of women and highlight the connection between women's history and suffrage.

Sadly, the 2020 Walk was cancelled  due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Women's History Group continued to meet virtually and decided to try to hold an outdoor event in May 2021, in the hopes of fresh air and sunshine. Meridian High School student Stella Turner joined the group as a CBC Youth Representative. The event changed to a self-guided loop, so that participants could attend as they desired, while social distancing. As the leader of the Women's History Group, Sally Ekfelt created new, durable signs for the Walk, that were larger and easier to read than the homemade versions of previous years. Several Girl Scouts assisted the group by creating Gold Award projects that were related to the Women's History Walk. Greta Hermann's video is featured on this site. 

In March 2020 the Women's History Group held a virtual reception to honor the Grand Marshals and the Young Women of Action. It was successful, and the group vowed to try it in person when that was appropriate. 

Sally and Julie Krachman walked the route numerous times, perfecting it to include historic markers and the historic Rolling Road. Stations on the walk expanded to include historic markers and sites noted by the Falls Church Historical Commission. Falls Church Arts held a long-delayed art show celebrating "A Woman's Place" in conjunction with the Walk. The Girl Scouts created a special patch so that scouts who participated could memorialize it for their sashes and vests. Big Chimneys Park was opened after the renovation and proved to be a perfect venue for signs and walkers.

During Women's History, Month Marybeth worked on a new project—recognizing Female Entrepreneurs in Falls Church. The 45 women who were recognized on daily Instagram posts were featured in a special "Entrepreneurial Women" exhibit that Sally Cole curated on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce.

Continuing Nikki's idea of including young women, the group initiated the Young Women of Action Award. Honorees were selected by the administrators at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and Meridian High School. The walk was the first community event after pandemic restrictions eased, and the community was thrilled to be there. Nikki set up a chalkboard that provided participants an opportunity to write about women they admire.  The Grand Marshals were recognized at Big Chimneys Park with short outdoor remarks. It was a beautiful sunny day, and participants were enthusiastic about the event.

The 2022 Walk recognized 5 Grand Marshals and 23 Young Women of Action. They were feted at a reception in March at Falls Church Arts Gallery and honored in person on May 1 at Big Chimneys Park at noon. The reception was exquisitely planned by Ellen Salsbury, Sally Phillips, Jane Scully, Sally Ekfelt, Edie Snyder, and Marty Meserve.

The route was expanded to include the sidewalk alongside the newly renovated Mary Riley Styles Public Library, and the renovated sidewalk along S. Washington Street. There were 60 stations along the walk including listing of all the women who have served on the Falls Church School Board and City Council, and the listing of the first women who registered to vote in Falls Church. 

The 2023 Walk was a month-long scavenger hunt style adventure during Women's History Month. The signs were placed in locations throughout the City, including the Falls Church Episcopal, multiple local businesses, parks, the library, the Community Center, City Hall, and the schools.