CONTACT:
Wanda Sobieski
Founder and President, Suffrage Coalition; Women’s Suffrage Museum
sobilae@gmail.com
Mary Kellogg-Joslyn
Senior Executive, Women’s Suffrage Museum
mkellogg10@aol.com
A Home of Her Own: Landmark Gift Fuels Vision for the Women’s Suffrage Museum in Downtown Knoxville
Transformative donation from Hatcher-Hill Development Company, LLC, launches expansion efforts as the Suffrage Coalition secures the museum’s permanent home
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 1, 2025) – A major milestone in the creation of the Women’s Suffrage Museum was reached when the Suffrage Coalition announced on Nov. 6, 2025, that it had successfully raised $2 million and purchased 706 South Gay Street, establishing the museum’s permanent home in the heart of downtown Knoxville. This achievement represents decades of dedication to preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the full story of the women’s suffrage movement, with the museum planned to open in 2028.
A transformative turning point in the museum’s development came when Knoxville developer Tim Hill, Co-Founder and President of Hatcher-Hill Properties, LLC, committed a $500,000 donation to support expansion of the project. His gift launched a $2.9 million fundraising campaign to secure and restore the adjacent 708 South Gay Street property, enabling the museum’s envisioned footprint to more than double in size.
When completed, the combined 706–708 South Gay Street campus – encompassing more than 20,000 square feet – will stand as the nation’s largest institution solely dedicated to telling a more complete and inclusive story of the women’s suffrage movement.
“This extraordinary gift will help us locate and preserve much more of the many shades of the suffrage story,” said Wanda Sobieski, Founder and President of the Suffrage Coalition. “Because of Hatcher-Hill’s generosity, the Women’s Suffrage Museum will have the space it needs to tell this story fully and beautifully. Tim Hill’s belief in our mission is a gift to the entire community.”
Honoring History Through Symbolism and Storytelling
The early vision for the museum’s unveiling included deeply meaningful symbolism that paid tribute to Tennessee’s decisive role as the “Perfect 36th” state whose ratification of the 19th Amendment made women’s suffrage law. A 36-star U.S. flag banner, on loan from the Tennessee State Museum, served as a reminder of the state’s historic impact.
A dramatic architectural rendering of the future museum – spanning 23 by 35 feet – was introduced to illustrate both the scale and the ambition of the project. The visual depiction of the completed museum offered a first glimpse of the immersive galleries, historic artifact displays, and educational spaces planned for the site.
Sobieski has long emphasized that the project represents more than 30 years of passion, perseverance, and purpose.
“The Women’s Suffrage Museum will be a tangible, enduring tribute – a place where the legacy of the courageous women who fought for the right to vote is preserved, interpreted, and taught for generations to come,” said Sobieski.
Leadership, Legacy, and a Transformative Gift
Former Knoxville Mayor Madelyn Rogero, an early and consistent advocate for the museum’s vision, praised Hill’s leadership and longstanding commitment to preservation and community revitalization.
“From the earliest days of this project, I have believed deeply in the importance of telling this story right here in Knoxville, where the spirit of progress has always run strong,” said Rogero. “This gift represents the best of who we are as a community, people who honor our past while investing in our shared future.”
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon also expressed support, recognizing the museum’s cultural and historical significance to the city and the state.
“Located right here in Tennessee, the Women’s Suffrage Museum will celebrate the brave women who secured the right to vote,” said Kincannon. “Knoxville is proud to be the home of this national treasure, a place where history and innovation meet to inspire the future.”
Rebecca “Becca” Ensminger McCombs, a descendant of Febb Ensminger Burn – whose letter persuaded her son, Rep. Harry T. Burn, to cast the decisive vote in favor of ratification – shared her reflections on the museum’s future impact.
“Something I love about this museum is that it will hold many stories, some famous, some quiet,” said McCombs. “It will be a place that tells our sons and daughters, ‘Your voice matters. Use it well, and also listen.’”
A Call for Donor Support
Hill noted that supporting the museum is a way to honor the courage of those who secured voting rights for women and to preserve a major piece of Knoxville’s historic downtown for future generations.
“Knoxville’s story is America’s story, rich with people who had the courage to make an impact,” said Hill. “The suffragists gave us one of the most powerful examples of that courage. Supporting this museum is a way to honor them.”
Mary Kellogg-Joslyn, Senior Executive for the Women’s Suffrage Museum and Co-Founder and former Chief Operating Officer of Titanic Museum Attractions, emphasized the significance of Hatcher-Hill’s donation as a catalyst for broader support.
“Tim Hill’s generosity takes our dream to a new level,” said Kellogg-Joslyn. “But this is just the beginning. We invite all who believe in the power of women’s stories and in preserving history to join us. Through donor support, we will bring this museum to life for generations to come.”
The expansion campaign continues, with $2.4 million remaining toward the purchase and restoration of 708 South Gay Street. Those wishing to contribute to the ongoing fundraising campaign can visit womenssuffragemuseum.org to learn more about the museum’s mission, explore its story, and make a tax-deductible donation.
“This project is a testament to Wanda Sobieski and to everyone who believed in her vision,” added Kellogg-Joslyn. “For three decades, Wanda has worked tirelessly, collecting more than 1,000 artifacts, raising funds to build two monuments in downtown Knoxville, and never losing sight of her dream to give these stories a permanent home. Because of her leadership and the support of so many, that dream is finally beginning to take shape.”
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About the Women’s Suffrage Museum:
Envisioned as a 20,000+-square-foot cultural landmark encompassing 706 and 708 South Gay Street in downtown Knoxville, the Women’s Suffrage Museum will be the largest institution in the United States devoted exclusively to the women’s suffrage movement. Exhibits will include immersive galleries, educational programming, and more than 1,000 historic artifacts from Wanda Sobieski’s renowned collection, many of which will be displayed publicly for the first time. The museum is planned to open in 2028. To learn more or to support the museum’s development, visit womenssuffragemuseum.org.
About the Suffrage Coalition:
The Suffrage Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to locating, preserving, and celebrating the history of the women’s suffrage movement. The organization has collected more than 1,000 historic artifacts, led the state of Tennessee in the creation of statewide suffrage monuments, and now advances its vision to create the Women’s Suffrage Museum in Knoxville, Tenn. For more information, visit suffragecoalition.org.