Seneca Falls, NY – The National Women’s Hall of Fame has been honored by the 2025 Historic Preservation Awards by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Our historic home—the Seneca Knitting Mill, built in 1844—received the Joan K. Davidson Award, recognizing nearly a decade of collaborative effort to transform the once-dilapidated mill into a vibrant, accessible museum space. The building is a cornerstone of Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the Women’s Rights Movement in the United States.
“This transformational project exemplifies these beliefs and has succeeded in preserving and reactivating a building that is deeply woven with the history of Seneca Falls,” said the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Our Historic Home
About the Joan K. Davidson Award
We are deeply honored to receive an award named for preservationist and philanthropist Joan K. Davidson (1927–2023), a champion of grassroots historic preservation. Davidson served as Commissioner of New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (1993–1995), Chair of the New York State Council on the Arts (1974–1977), and President of the J. M. Kaplan Fund (1977–1993).
Her legacy includes championing efforts that protect both natural and built environments across New York State—from rural towns to major cities. She believed that enduring preservation efforts begin at the grassroots level, driven by committed individuals working to protect irreplaceable community assets and tangible links to our collective past.
Members of Joan K. Davidson’s family pose with representatives from Clinton Brown Architects and Jeanne Giovanni of the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
With Gratitude
This award is a testament to the vision, dedication, and collaboration of countless organizations and individuals who made the rehabilitation of the Seneca Knitting Mill possible.
One of the most steadfast champions of this effort has been Jeanne Giovannini, whose leadership and commitment have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. Jeanne has served as the chair and champion of the Mill Renovation Project since 2012, working with fundraising and construction teams responsible for the adaptive rehabilitation of the historic Seneca Knitting Mill. She joined the board of the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2007 and is a past president of the Hall as well.
We also extend heartfelt thanks to:
Atlantic Testing
Baker Construction
Brian Wishneff & Associates
Canal Corp
CJS Architects
Clinton Brown Company
Community Bank
Community Foundation
Constellation Brands
Corning
Crosby-Brownlie
Crossroads Abstract
Davis-Ulmer
Eide Bailly
Empire State Development
EPF Grant
Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor
ESD
ESD – Market NY Grant
Ferrara Lumber
Fisher Associates
Foundation Design
FRAME | Integrative Design Strategies
Gar Associates
Generations Bank
Gilbane
Grossman St. Amour CPAs
Hadley Exhibits, Inc
Humanities New York
Iversen Construction Corp
Jean O’Connell Associates
Jensen/BRV Engineering
Kowan Cordon
L.M. Sessler Excavating & Wrecking
LaBella Associates
LeChase Construction
Marianacci Builders
Monarch Private Capital
MRB
Nancy Muir-Gaire
National Park Service
NYS Canal Corporation
NYS Council on the Arts
NYS Dept of State
NYS Homes & Community Renewal
NYSHPO
O’Connell Electric
Paradigm
Premier Signs
Preserve Seneca Falls
R E Kelley
Rochester Area Community Foundation
Mitchell Rowe
SBS Fund Counsel LLC
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Seneca County
Seneca Falls Development Corp
Skysee Video
Karsten Solberg
Spencer Fane Atty
Terracon
Thoma Development Consultants
Town of Seneca Falls, Heritage Preservation CommissionGenco
Wayne Hermanson
Westlake Art Conservation Center
Note: This list represents our major partners in our rehabilitation and construction efforts. We have taken every reasonable measure to ensure that the list is complete and accurate. We acknowledge, however, that unintentional oversights may occur. If your name does not appear, please accept our heartfelt appreciation for your contributions. We are deeply grateful for the essential role that each partner has played in our success and extend our thanks to everyone who has supported this project.
Learn More and Come Visit!
To read the full press release from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/newsroom/press-releases/release.aspx?r=2072
👉 Come visit us in Seneca Falls!
Walk through history, be inspired by extraordinary women, and see why this national landmark continues to make history.