Visit The Place Where It All Began for Women’s Basketball

Long before basketball greats like Sheryl and Lisa Leslie became household names, women were helping to define the game of basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts. And Women’s History Month is the perfect time to teach kids about the remarkable contribution to sports that women made with a visit to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Here, you can introduce the family to the hometown of the sport itself, where James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 as a means of conditioning male athletes during the cold winter months when outdoor sports simply weren’t possible. Within a year, the sport was adopted by the women of nearby Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where a pioneer named Senda Berenson believed the sport would be just as helpful for women to learn and play. It wasn’t long before they were holding their own on the court, even if they did have to do it in dresses. Over the decades, the hard work and dedication of these pioneering athletes who helped define the sport as much as their male counterparts did paid off, resulting in today’s industry that generates millions of dollars and gives hope and inspiration to girls around the world.

While you are in Springfield to explore the history of women in basketball, be sure to stop by the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, the first U.S. Armory where women also played a significant role not just in the armory but also in U.S. history. Although the armory was in operation since 1794 and run completely by men, when the country entered World War I and the male work force dwindled, women were brought in to help out with the war effort. This instance of women taking on the jobs of men was a step in the right direction for equality, as women were able to prove their abilities and value in the work force.

Whether you visit for Women’s History Month or during another time of year, Western Massachusetts is full of reasons to showcase the impact that women have had on the world we live in today. It makes for a great destination to teach the kids, both boys and girls, about the importance of equality in everything we do from sports to work.