Girlhood (It’s complicated)
Ticket price includes admission to all Minnesota History Center exhibits. MNHS Members get in free.
See how girls have spoken up, challenged expectations, and been on the front lines of social change throughout US history.
GIRLHOOD is fun.
GIRLHOOD is fearless.
GIRLHOOD is sweet.
GIRLHOOD is serious.
Explore the ever-evolving concept of girlhood in the United States and how young women have influenced politics, education, work, health, and fashion.
Featuring over 100 artifacts from the Smithsonian Institution, interactive displays, historical photographs and more, Girlhood (It’s complicated) isn’t just for girls; it’s for everyone.
Minnesota (where girls shoot hoops)
Girls played Minnesota’s first recorded basketball game in 1893. Ever since then, girls have shaped—and been shaped by—the game.
Through stories of individual players and teams, this exclusive section of the exhibit, developed by the Minnesota Historical Society, demonstrates how girls who make a difference grow into women committed to supporting the next generations of female athletes as coaches, mentors, friends, and allies.
Villa Sancta Scholastica High School Department of The College of St. Scholastica, 1920. Photo by Louis F. Dworshak.
Girlhood (It’s complicated) related resources
Attend related events
Join us for dance, music, and other events celebrating Girlhood.
Shop for related books
From contemporary classics to urgent dispatches, Minnesota Historical Society Press offers a rich array of books that explore the truly complicated—and joyful, and poignant, and dramatic—aspects of girlhood.
UnitedHealthcare is proud to sponsor Girlhood (It’s complicated) at the Minnesota History Center. While girlhood doesn’t have a defined timeline, the preteen and teen years (ages 11 to 17) are a big part of it. These years often bring a lot of physical and emotional change. Learning more about what your child is experiencing during this time of rapid development can help you support their health and well-being in the ways they need.
Girlhood (It’s complicated) was created by the National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The exhibition is supported by the Smithsonian’s American Women’s History Initiative, a program of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
Funding provided by the State of Minnesota's Legacy Amendment, through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008, and our generous donors and members.
MNHS Sponsors
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