The Boston Women’s Heritage Trail (BWHT), in partnership with the Women’s Foundation of Boston(WFB), will host a public celebration on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, from 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse to unveil a new Sidewalk Stories trail marker honoring Ellen Swallow Richards—a groundbreaking scientist, educator, and the first woman to graduate from MIT.
Richards revolutionized public health and environmental science, beginning with her landmark 1872 study at Jamaica Pond that transformed Boston’s approach to water quality and sanitation. This new marker not only commemorates her achievements but also connects past and present through a QR code linking visitors to an interactive audio story, biography, and educational resources.
“Ellen Swallow Richards is a trailblazing American chemist whose legacy we at BWHT are proud to celebrate and make accessible to learners of all backgrounds and generations,” said Dr. Alexandria Russell, BWHT Executive Director. “By placing these markers at Jamaica Pond—where much of her life-changing research began—we hope to inspire future generations, especially women and girls, to see themselves in STEM fields.”
The unveiling is part of BWHT’s Sidewalk Stories project, which places markers across the city to make women’s history visible and accessible to all. Women’s Foundation of Massachusetts is sponsoring the Jamaica Pond marker as part of its mission to invest in women and girls’ economic independence.
