Visiting the Susan B. Anthony Museum and House in Rochester, NY
The Susan B. Anthony Museum in Rochester, New York is a not-for-profit museum and learning center that aims to showcase the important life and legacy of Susan B. Anthony, a key figure in the American women’s rights movement. Briana Mitchell walks you through her visit, and how you can make the most of your visit.
Rochester, New York, is full of so many things to do, but it is undoubtedly known for its museums. It has some pretty impressive museums on its list, too.
The George Eastman Museum perfectly encapsulates the city’s long-time association with photography and industry. The Strong Museum of Play is another museum that families come from far and wide to experience. Finally, the Memoral Art Gallery is a fantastic museum to head to for everything from a delicious Sunday brunch, to seeing its iconic organ.
But Rochester is known for more than its bars and restaurants, or being the home of Kodak, Xerox and interactive games for kids. It’s known for its citizens throughout the years who have been on the right side of history.
Many Americans know the story and importance that Susan B. Anthony had on women’s suffrage in the United States. As a Canadian, learning about “The Famous Five” was about as far as I’d gotten on the topic of women’s suffrage. I didn’t really understand the gravity and influence that Susan B. Anthony had on women’s suffrage movements beyond the borders of the United States.
Regardless of whether you’ve known of Susan B. Anthony for all of your life, or you’re conscious of the importance of social reform and its history, a visit to the Susan B. Anthony museum in Rochester is definitely worth the stop.
:Susan B. Anthony’s desk in her home, which you’ll see on a tour at the Susan B. Anthony Museum. Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell.
Who Was Susan B. Anthony?
Susan B. Anthony played a pivotal role in women’s suffrage in the United States. She was born in Massachusetts, with a Quaker for a father and a mother whose family fought in the American Revolution. She was moved by the Quaker belief that all are equal under God, which played an essential role in her politics and interest in social reform.
Once her family moved to New York State, she met the friends of her father, Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. It was through their influence that Susan B. Anthony became so passionate about ending slavery.
After the first Women’s Rights Convention was held in nearby Seneca Falls, Susan B. Anthony then turned her attention to the American Women’s Suffrage Movement. She worked alongside other key figures in the movement across the country, and advocated and spoke for the need for women’s right to vote and have a say in politics.
She often faced adversity and risked her safety in her time advocating for the rights of Black Americans and women. In 1872, she was arrested for voting, having forced her way to the ballot box to cast her vote. She was tried and fined $100, which helped to gain attention and traction for the movement.
Susan B. Anthony spent the rest of her life advocating for women’s rights. She helped to create the National American Women’s Suffrage Association, and led it until 1900. She died in 1906, having seen her efforts help secure the rights for African American men to vote (1870) , but without seeing women being granted the right to vote. Women weren’t allowed to vote in the United States until 1920.
Entering the museum building at the Susan B. Anthony Museum to start our tour. Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell.
What You Can Expect on a Visit to the Susan B. Anthony Museum
The Susan B. Anthony museum consists of two buildings: Anthony’s historic landmark home (17 Madison Street), and the museum building located beside it. This was also the site where she was arrested for voting in 1872, and later died in 1906.
The only way to visit the museum is on a guided tour. Tour reservations must be made online in advance of your visit. The tour will meet in the museum building, located next to Susan B. Anthony’s house.
The spacious dining and living room at the Susan B. Anthony house.
You’ll learn about the history and her impact on women’s suffrage and civil rights, and then be led room by room through the main floor of her house, where she shared and collaborated with many notable guests and family members to inform her political efforts and reform.
One thing that we appreciated was that the staff here were very passionate and well informed. Our tour guide shared some incredible stories that only increased the reverence we had for this American civil rights leader. I know both Chris and I felt honoured to be walking where she herself had walked. As they know on their site, “this is the home of one of the world’s greatest revolutionaries.”
That fact wasn’t lost on us.
The tour ends in the museum building, at the gift shop that is dedicated not only to Susan B. Anthony, but other notable American women, suffragists and civil rights heroes. You can find everything from “Burning the Patriarchy” candles to Ruth Bader Ginsburg pins. Their online shop carries a few items, and all proceeds go directly to supporting and preserving the museum and its historic importance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning some more of the history of Susan B. Anthony and women’s suffrage in the museum building, adjacent to Anthony’s house.
If you’re keen to visit, you might have some questions, so we’ll do our best to address some of the common questions.
They’re open Tuesdays through Sunday, and closed on major holidays.
At this time, visits are only available via tour. You can book your tour here.
Admission (at the time of publication) is $15, as well as $10 for senior citizens (62 and over), and active military. It’s $5 per student.
The museum is located at 17 Madison Street, Rochester, New York 14608 (585.235.6124). Parking is available in the lot next to the Visitors Center at 19 Madison Street. On-street parking is also available.
The first floor of the museum is accessible for those who have difficulty climbing stairs. Motorized and manual wheelchairs are welcome, and the first floor is wheelchair accessible. Service animals are also welcome in the museum. Visual interpretation of the tour can also be provided by the staff at the museum.
The Susan B. Anthony Museum and House is also known for their lecture series. You may want to keep tabs on who is coming to speak as part of the Monday Lecture Series.
For those interested, the mission statement of the museum is as follows:
“The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House interprets the great reformer’s vision and story, preserves and shares her National Historic Landmark home and headquarters, collects and exhibits artifacts related to her life and work, and offers tours and interpretive programs to inspire and challenge individuals to make a positive difference.”
The Importance of Visiting the Susan B. Anthony Museum and House in Rochester, N.Y.
If you care about women’s rights, women’s suffrage, or the ever-present need for change and advocacy in politics, then a visit to the Susan B. Anthony Museum is a must.
I’m always so inspired to visit sites such as this one, because although at times it can feel like there’s so much more that needs to be done in the name of equality for all (or all being equal under God, as the Quakers said), it’s equally important to remember how far we’ve come.
Not only is the history of Susan B. Anthony important to learn more about, but supporting museums like this one and keeping the future of politics aligned with some of the pioneers of radical change is an important symbolic gesture.
The poignant truth that Susan B. Anthony never even lived to see women being granted the right to vote, despite all her efforts to achieve this, reminds us all of the importance of persevering in the face of injustice. Every little step we take in the right direction creates ripples that we may not bear witness to in our lifetime, but will make way for the equality that is possible in generations to come.
We want to humbly thank Visit Rochester for hosting us as media. All opinions are completely our own.
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