March brings not only International Women’s Day, but also Women’s History Month, so TTM is celebrating the women who shaped America and continue to do so. Ranging from historical figures and authors to innovative entrepreneurs and community leaders, the contributions of women continue to resonate and inspire.
Visitors to the USA can walk in their footsteps, support their businesses, hear their stories, and experience their enduring influence in the destinations we represent.
San Antonio, Texas
“Food is a universal language and it speaks to everyone” – Nicola Blaque
Chef Nicola Blaque encapsulates why San Antonio is both a city of extraordinary women and a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Blaque owns and is chef of Mi Roti, Freight Chicken, and was recently awarded a Bib Gourmand for Jerk Shack which blends Jamaican classics with Texas sizzle. Lisa Wong has been a driving force in San Antonio’s Culinary landscape for more than 40 years, with Lisa’s Mexican Restaurant, her revival of Rosario’s, and contemporary twists on Mexican comfort food. Cementing the city’s reputation is Chef Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin of Best Quality Daughter, a twice James Beard finalist for her unique take on Asian fusion.
San Antonio mayors have made US history, twice. In 1975, Lila Cockrell was elected as Mayor of San Antonio, becoming the first female mayor of a major metropolitan area in the US. Cockrell held office for eight years in total, between 1975–1981 and 1989–1991. 40 years later, in 2015, San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor was the first Black woman to be elected mayor of a major US city.
The Battle of the Flowers Parade was conceived by women seeking to remember the heroes who had fought for Texas independence at the Alamo. One of the oldest and largest parades in America, the parade has been the pinnacle of San Antonio’s Fiesta celebrations since 1891. The parade continues to be organised and produced by women, all volunteers.
https://www.visitsanantonio.com/
Tennessee, Sounds Perfect
“There’s a lot of talented women out there and we should all get a chance to do what we do” – Dolly Parton
From global icons to small-town trailblazers, the women of Tennessee have been inspiring and innovating in ways that leave a lasting impact. We all know Dolly Parton for her musical talent and magnetic personality, and she is equally celebrated for her deep commitment to philanthropy. One of her most notable contributions is the Imagination Library, a program she founded in 1995 to foster a love of reading among children. Inspired by her father’s struggles with literacy, Dolly started the program in her home county and has since expanded it across five countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland. Through partnerships with local communities, the Imagination Library now distributes over two million books each month, free of charge, to children from birth to age five.
Dolly recently teamed up with Tennessee Tourism to create the Tennessee Playcation Kid’s Guide. Available now at DollyPlaycation.com, the 90-plus page guide sparks creativity and pure imagination, helping families map out their dream getaway. Dollywood itself continues to draw visitors every year and is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2025.
Tennessee may be famous for its whiskey, and women are leading the industry with passion, innovation, and expertise. Fawn Weaver, CEO and founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, is a visionary entrepreneur, bestselling author, and speaker. Alongside her, Victoria Eady Butler, master distiller at Uncle Nearest, continues the whiskey-making legacy of her great-great-great-grandfather. Together, they’ve built the best-selling African American-founded spirit brand of all time, right here in Tennessee, where visitors can experience their craft firsthand.
Literary excellence also thrives in Tennessee, thanks in part to Ann Patchett. A bestselling author and one of the state’s most influential literary figures, Patchett is also a champion of independent bookstores. As the owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville, she has created more than just a bookstore, it’s a cultural hub where readers and writers connect, fostering a love for literature in the heart of the city.
And in the world of food, Chef Maneet Chauhan is redefining Nashville’s dining scene. An award-winning author and familiar face on Chopped, Iron Chef, and The View, Chauhan brings bold innovation to the table. Her latest eatery blends Indian flavours with Southern influences, creating a one-of-a-kind culinary experience that embodies the rich, diverse culture of Tennessee.
https://www.tnvacation.com/articles/10-sites-honor-and-celebrate-tennessee-women
Meet Boston
“…having grown up without any visible role models, and especially no women of colour in hospitality, what would really make me happy would be to inspire somebody else to think, ‘I could do that too’ ” – Nia Grace
The Boston Women’s Heritage Trail depicts the remarkable stories of women whose lives and achievements have enriched the city of Boston for almost four centuries. It is a must visit to understand the role Boston’s women have always played in shaping history. The Revolutionary Women Tour that will be running in March honours the indomitable women who took part in the American Revolution, and the generations of women that followed
Boston’s Female Chefs and sommeliers are forging their own paths, transforming the local culinary scene, challenging the industry status quo and building upon the legacies of women who came before them. Nia Grace’s three unique venues, Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen, the Underground Café + Lounge, and Grace by Nia, are all dynamic and welcoming places, with creative food, drinks and entertainment. Grace was instrumental in forming the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition to help support local Black-owned businesses.
Haley Fortier’s two wine bars, Haley. Henry and Nathálie, focus on natural, organic, small production and female-produced wines. Fortier has shaken up the wine scene by highlighting interesting, independent winemakers, all the while stacking up awards with her signature style.
Discover New England
“Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn”. – Harriet Beecher Stowe
Across New England, female authors have made homes and written timeless novels. Harriet Beecher Stowe, born and bred in Connecticut, wrote her antislavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, in Maine. Located in Brunswick, The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is a National Historic Landmark and National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site. Edith Wharton’s country home and design project, The Mount is nestled in the heart of The Berkshires in Massachusetts. The site is open to visitors, who can tour the house and gardens, learning more about the author, who was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1921 for The Age of Innocence.
Another writer from the region is Jamaica Kincaid, an Antiguan-American novelist, essayist, gardener, and gardening writer. She was born in St. John’s, Antigua (part of the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda). She lives in North Bennington, Vermont (in the United States), during the summers, and is Professor of African and African American Studies in Residence at Harvard University during the academic year.
Susan B. Anthony, an intrinsic figure in the American fight for women’s suffrage, women’s rights, can be recognised and celebrated at the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum in Adams, Massachusetts. Another prominent figure in the struggle for the right to vote is Alva (Vanderbilt) Belmont, president of the National Women’s Party and avid campaigner. Her efforts can be remembered upon visiting Marble House, in Newport, Rhode Island, where she held many ‘Votes for Women’ rallies, and the ‘Conference of Great Women’.
The New Hampshire Women’s Heritage Trail is a trail of history markers throughout the state honouring women who have made positive contributions such as Amy Cheney Beach, who was America’s first internationally celebrated female composer.
https://discovernewengland.org/
Visit Mississippi
“I was always my own teacher” – Eudora Welty, One Writer’s Beginnings
The Mississippi Blues Trail honors the people and places that have made extraordinary contributions to blues as an art form, genre, and cultural movement. Along this historic trail, you’ll find stories of remarkable women whose musical brilliance has left a lasting impact on generations.
One such trailblazer is Cassandra Wilson, a Grammy-winning jazz vocalist born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. Once declared “America’s Best Singer” by Time Magazine, Wilson’s soulful voice and genre-blending artistry has shaped blues music. Visitors can explore her roots on Albermarle Road in Jackson where a star was in the making.
Another icon featured on the Blues Trail is Memphis Minnie, a premier blues artist of the 1930s and ’40s. Widely regarded as one of the greatest female blues singers of all time, she was among the first twenty artists inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Many of her songs have been popularized by household names, cementing her influence on the evolution of blues music.
Visitors to Mississippi can journey through history by joining the Extraordinary Women 2025 “Mercy & Grace” Tour or follow the Mississippi Blues Trail to discover the women who helped shape the blues as we know it today.
The Mississippi Writers Trail also celebrates renowned female Mississippi authors such as Eudora Welty, Ida B Wells, Margaret Walker and Natasha Trethewey. Each marker tells a story around the places where they lived, worked and found their inspiration, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the history behind their written works. Eudora Welty became the first author honoured with a historical marker on the Mississippi Writers Trail at her house in Jackson, Mississippi, which is now a designated National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as a house museum.
Louisiana
“I paint the story of my people. The things that happened to me and the ones I know. My paintings tell how we worked, played and preyed”. – Clementine Hunter
Visitors to Natchitoches can view a significant collection of work by African American folk artist Clementine Hunter who was a self-taught and captured the essence of everyday life through her paintings, becoming one of Louisiana’s cultural figures. She lived and worked on Melrose Plantation, which remains open to visitors today.
With no formal training, Clementine Hunter used whatever she could find, scraps of paper, wine bottles, even snuff boxes, painting with discarded supplies from visiting artists to Melrose. Despite her immense talent, recognition came later in life. She became the first African American artist to have a solo exhibition in New Orleans and later showcased her work at Northwestern State College. Hunter didn’t start painting until her 50s, yet she created more than 5,000 works, leaving a rich artistic legacy. Today, her reprints can be found where her journey began, Melrose Plantation, as well as in shops throughout the National Historic Landmark District. Her work remains a crucial record of Southern Black culture and everyday life, preserving history through art.
Louisiana is celebrating a Year of Food so here are four favourite female chefs; Susan Spicer began her culinary career in 1979 and has been recognised by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chef Southeast and is best known for her fusion restaurant Bayona. Born and raised in St. Lucia, Nina Compton competed and was runner-up on Top Chef season 11 in New Orleans. Chef Nina fell in love with the city, prompting her to open her highly acclaimed Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro. Chefs Sam and Cody are the owners of Hot Tails in New Roads and Prairieville, they won the 2013 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off, earning the titles “King and Queen of Louisiana Seafood” and starred in their own Food Network show “Cajun Aces.” After graduating from the John Folse Culinary Institute and starting in the Commander’s Palace kitchen in 2008, Chef Megan “Meg” Bickford took on the role of Executive Chef in 2020 – the first woman to earn the position at this legendary New Orleans establishment.
https://www.explorelouisiana.com/
New Orleans
“In my dining room…we changed the course of America over a bowl of gumbo and some fried chicken.” – Leah Chase
Leah Chase was the undisputed Queen of Creole Cuisine. Her food did more than nourish, it told the story of Louisiana, embodying its culture, resilience, and soul. Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, was founded in 1941 in one of the nation’s oldest African American neighborhoods, Tremé, it became much more under Leah Chase’s influence. During the Jim Crow era, the restaurant served as a lifeline, cashing checks for Black dockworkers when local banks refused. It was also one of the rare spaces where Black and white patrons could gather socially.
The restaurant became a strategic hub for the movement, hosting Freedom Riders as they planned protests and operating as the city’s first gallery to showcase African American artists. To experience a true taste of history, stop by Dooky Chase for a legendary bowl of gumbo, and pay tribute to the woman who made it possible.
Beyond the restaurant scene, women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs are making waves across the city. Babes in Business, an initiative uniting forty-five local women-owned businesses, serves as a roadmap to support and celebrate female entrepreneurs in New Orleans. Spearheaded by Alice McGillicuddy, owner of Glitter Box, the initiative highlights the unique challenges women business owners face.
Grammy-winning singer Irma Thomas had her first hit in 1959, and over the course of a six-decade career has earned the title, “Soul Queen of New Orleans”. In addition to her Grammy, Thomas has earned countless awards over the span of her career and was named by National Public Radio as one of the 50 Great Voices of all time. Thomas has played at every Jazzfest since 1974 – both secular and gospel sets – and is a New Orleans cultural icon, much-loved for her engaging personality and commitment to the community.
North Carolina
“We are part of the earth, and everything around us is part of us” – Myrtle Driver Johnson
Located in Salem, the Single Sisters House Museum tells the story of 16 courageous women who left their homes in 1766 in search of new beginnings. Two decades later, in 1786, three of these pioneering women established their own house in the village of Salem after a remarkable 500-mile journey. The Single Sisters House became a haven for female teachers and students, where young women received an education in mathematics, science, geography, and the arts—subjects rarely accessible to women at the time. For years, the Single Sisters ran the school, shaping generations of educated, independent women.
Today, the house stands as a powerful tribute to their entrepreneurial spirit and the enduring value of equal education and opportunity for women. As the longest-standing building in the United States continuously associated with the education of girls and women, it serves as both a historical landmark and a testament to progress. Visitors can step back in time through exhibits that bring to life the daily experiences, work, and lasting contributions of these remarkable women.
Located in Cherokee, North Carolina, the Museum of the Cherokee People offers visitors insight into the culture, art and heritage of Cherokee people. Born in Big Cove, North Carolina, Myrtle Driver Johnson is a Native American who has devoted her life to preserving the Cherokee language and cultural traditions. A respected Indigenous advocate, she has developed Cherokee language lessons and translated numerous children’s books. Myrtle’s story is one of unwavering dedication to cultural preservation and the innovative use of literature, enabling people of all ages to connect with the unique Cherokee language.
Visit Tucson
“I made my recipes work so that if it was good, it was good for your health” – Carlotta Flores
A UNESCO City of Gastronomy, many of the restaurants in Tucson are owned and led by women. El Charro Café is owned by Chef Carlotta Flores, the third generation of her family to continue the legacy of the oldest Mexican restaurant in the USA, which is still in continuous operation by the same family. In ten years, Wendy Garcia went from selling tamales at local farmers markets to being recognized by the acclaimed James Beard Foundation, her restaurant, Tumerico, offers a vegan menu that changes daily, based on the season and the availability of local produce.
Outside of owning and operating businesses, women in Tucson continue to lead and leave their mark in the city in numerous ways. Maegan Lopez of the Tohono O’odham Nation is Gardener and Cultural Outreach Liaison on Tohono O’odham agricultural practices at Mission Garden. Their goal is to help re-introduce native foods to people in her community and influence the local food culture in light of this history.
The Tucson Desert Art Museum hosts national exhibitions from the Smithsonian Institution, Women Artists of the West, and American Women Artists. Female artists who call Tucson home include muralist Jessica Gonzales, and custom tile designer Carly Quinn.
https://www.visittucson.org/blog/post/womens-work/
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For more information on the above destinations, please visit www.ttmworld.co.uk
Ends
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