Discover wine and Virginia women's suffrage history in August in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Bath County, and Norfolk while also exploring its complicated relationship with racial justice.
August 18, 2020 marks 100 years since the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote. Outside of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Seneca Falls Convention I did not learn much about women's suffrage in school, so this special anniversary made me do a little digging about key figures of this movement in Virginia. While there are not a lot of physical markers left, there are lot of ways to enjoy some history along with a relaxing afternoon at a winery (or three!).
Northern Virginia
Historic Sites - Lucy Burns Museum and Turning Point Suffragist Memorial
I have driven by the Workhouse Arts Center, housed in the former Lorton Reformatory, hundreds of times and had no idea of its important role in the women's suffrage movement. Dozens of women, including National Women's Party founder Alice Paul, were arrested during their 'Silent Sentinel' protests marching outside the White House to demand President Woodrow Wilson to support a federal law for women's suffrage. Reports of force feeding and deplorable jail conditions played a role in turning public sentiment in favor of the suffragists.
The Lucy Burns Museum on the grounds is named in honor of one of these suffragists and displays the history of the reformatory and the suffragist movement. The museum is open right now on Saturdays from 12-5PM.
Just down the road at Occoquan Regional Park, the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association is raising funds to erect a memorial to honor these women and educate the public about the women's suffrage movement. This park as well as the downtown Occoquan area nearby are great places to walk around and grab a bite to eat!
Wineries
There are several great options within 30 minutes of these historic sites. Paradise Springs Winery (Clifton) and the Winery at Bull Run (Manassas), while always pretty busy, have good wines and lots of open space to bring family or a pet. Effingham Manor Winery (Nokesville) is a bit quieter and while it does not allow children or pets, they have my favorite wines of the three. All three usually have music or great food options on the weekends!
Richmond
I'm embarrassed to admit that I grew up right outside of Richmond and had no idea how many Virginia suffrage leaders hailed from this city. I'll give the highlights, but the Library of Virginia is a great resource if you want to do a deeper dive.
Exhibits: Library of Virginia's "We Demand: Women's Suffrage in Virginia", Virginia Museum of History and Culture's "Agents of Change: Female Activism in Virginia from Women's Suffrage to Today". The Library is currently but there is a gallery online; the Virginia Museum is open for timed visits.
Maggie Walker Historic Site: Maggie Walker was a major community and civil rights leader as well as the founder of the first female black-owned bank in the nation. In 1920 she focused on pre-registration sessions to educate black women about voting and registered thousands of new black voters as a result. Only the outdoor grounds of this site are open right now and can be visited Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-2PM.
Crenshaw House (919 W. Franklin Street): Site of the first meeting of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia and now home of the VCU Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies.
Wineries
So many options that are only 30 minutes away! If you're looking for a laid-back experience with tasty wines, I recommend Jolene Family Winery (love their peach wine) and James River Cellars. New Kent Winery has great wines (check out the white Norton and Grand Reserve Chardonnay!). I haven't visited Ashton Creek Vineyards and Spring Run Vineyards in Chesterfield or Castle Glen Winery in Ashland but they are on my list!
Bath County
Historic Site - Three Hills Residence
Address: 348 Three Hills Lane, Warm Springs, VA 24484
Warms Springs is the home of one of the standout historical romance novelists of the early 20th century who sadly faded into history because of her involvement in the women's suffragist movement. Mary Johnston was the first female novelist to make the New York Times bestseller list, and wrote 23 novels, plays and short stories of which 3 were made into movies.
Johnston commissioned the beautiful Three Hills residence as one of her homes, but struggled to make ends meet after serving as a founding member of the Virginia Equal Suffrage League and receiving backlash and boycotts for publishing a feminist novel. The property, now on the US National Register of Historic Places, has switched hands several times and served as an inn but is now for sale.
Photo Credit: National Park Service
Wineries
You have to do a bit of a drive to get to any wineries right now, but in about a month that will change! Lexington Valley Vineyard and Rockbridge Vineyard are both about an hour away, but Rock Roadhouse Winery is scheduled to open in the quaint little town of Hot Springs on September 4th. It's only five minutes from this historic site and the Omni Homestead Resort.
Norfolk
Historic Site - Elmwood Cemetery
While no physical sites of the Hampton Roads suffrage movement still exist to my knowledge, a trip to Elmwood Cemetery allows you to visit several women who served as suffrage leaders.
Pauline Adams was born in Ireland and considered part of the 'militant' or protest wing of the suffrage movement and was jailed in at the Lorton Reformatory in 1917. The Norfolk Equal Suffrage League was founded at her home, and she was the second woman to practice law in Norfolk
Maud Powell Jamison grew up in Norfolk; as a member of the National Women's Party it is said she was likely arrested more than any Virginia woman protesting for women's suffrage in Washington. She is buried in California but a memorial gravestone resides in Elmwood.
Sarah Lee Fain was one of the first two women elected to
the Virginia House of Delegates in 1923.
Norfolk's Hunter House Museum is also hosting a temporary exhibit through September 5th, "Corsets to Crinoline: Unmentionables and the Road to Women's Suffrage". The museum is open from Wednesday to Saturday but appointments are required.
Wineries
Norfolk is unique in that it has more urban wineries rather than the farm wineries you see in other parts of the state. It's exciting because it gives more access to Virginia wine to more people. Virginia Beach Winery (homemade small batch wines) and Mermaid Winery (Virginia and California grapes) are both nearby, but if you're driving from the west you can visit Williamsburg Winery on the way down which has a very large selection of wines!
Women's Suffrage and Racial Justice
I think it's important to acknowledge that the fight for women's suffrage often did not coincide with rights for black women. Privilege also played a big role in who was able to participate in this movement. Women's suffrage groups, including the League of Women Voters founded after the 19th Amendment was passed, banned black membership and tried to block efforts for black women to register to vote. The anti-suffrage movement also used racism in their messaging, stating that allowing suffrage would result in local "Negro rule".
Despite this, leaders such Maggie Walker and Ora Brown Stokes actively held trainings and voter registration drives for black women and utilized groups such Virginia State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs to advance suffrage and equal rights for black women.
Conclusion
I hope this makes it easy to explore new spots in Virginia on your next winery drive! Subscribe below for more articles like this and reviews on my favorite winery spots.
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