Solid Light is pleased to kick off Women’s History Month by announcing the award-winning firm has been selected to lead the Planning, Design, Fabrication and Installation of the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House Interpretive Center in Rochester, NY.
The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House was the home of the legendary American civil rights leader, and the site of her famous arrest for voting in 1872. The home, a National Historic Landmark, was the headquarters of the National American Woman Suffrage Association when she was its president. It is also where she died in 1906 at age 86, following her “Failure is Impossible” speech in Baltimore. The historic home 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 new facility will increase capacity for visitation at the historic campus, emphasizing the power of place within the historic home, and providing a complementary immersive experience exploring the themes of Susan B. Anthony’s life–including civil rights, voting rights and equal pay for women–resonating with contemporary audiences. The Interpretive Center will also include space for archives and collections, events and programming, operations, and retail.
“As a woman–and a business owner, this site–this project, is personal. Susan B. Anthony has been an influential figure throughout my life,” says Cynthia Torp, Owner and CEO of Solid Light. “The opportunity to expand the historical footprint of her work and legacy by developing a newly designed visitor experience, spotlighting the strengths of multiple sites in a campus-like setting for generations to come, is incredibly exciting.”
“Susan B. Anthony is as relevant today as she’s ever been because the fight for voting rights and human rights is today’s news. We selected Solid Light as our key partner in this project because they have the skills and the experience to deliver powerful, creative, immersive experiences,” said Deborah L. Hughes, President & CEO of the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House. “Even more importantly, they understand our purpose is so much more than sharing one woman’s role in shaping history. Our vision is to share the history in ways that equip and inspire visitors to continue to work for the just, humane, and equitable world that we have not yet achieved.”
The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House’s Interpretive Center project partners include SWBR Architects and Christa Construction. Fundraising is underway, with a projected opening in late 2024.
