Photo of Stonewall Riots, NY Daily News, 1969; A patron of the Stonewall Inn confronts New York Police, as seen in STONEWALL UPRISING, Photo by Bettye Lane.
Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library was established in 1973, a short time after the Stonewall Uprising that took place in New York City and started the modern LGBTQ+ liberation movement. The Uprising was on June 28, 1969, on Christopher Street. The police raid set off several nights of rage, leading to changing laws, the founding of national and local LGBTQ+ organizations and a realization that all Americans had the right to be treated equally under the law.
The museum, archives, & library are protectors and collectors of historic and cultural materials, ensuring the community’s stories are not forgotten or negated. We believe that everyone’s story is valuable and reflected in our archives and library.
In addition to our collections, we host online and in-person interviews, discussions, and programs of all kinds to keep our community informed and entertained. Currently we have an immersive exhibition, a replication of the Stonewall Inn, as it would have looked on June 28, 1969, before the police raided the bar. This exhibit will go on a national tour for 10-years, ending in June 2034, on the Uprising’s 65th anniversary.
On June 29, 2024, we will host and film the world’s first reenactment of the Stonewall Uprising, a reminder that we have not achieved full equality in our country. So, as we remember the courage of a rag tag group of young people back in 1969, we fearlessly take on the current attacks on our community.
All people who hold the belief that we are equally entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness hold a small piece of Stonewall in their hearts. We will not be deterred, nor will we stop fighting until everyone knows freedom and the rights stated in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is “We the People” who come together to form a more perfect union. We take that responsibility very seriously.
Thailand to be first Southeast Asian country to recognise same-sex marriage
Members of the LGBTQ+ community react as they arrive ahead of the passing of the marriage equality bill in its second and third readings by
Honouring the Legacy: Canada Commemorates 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans of the First World War
Battle of Vimy Ridge Memorial © Courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada This April marked the 107th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a significant
Get your free copy of Global Heroes, jam-packed with positive news, straight in your inbox.
Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library (SNMAL) operates one of the leading gay archives in America and the Stonewall Library which remains the largest LGBTQ+ collection in the world. Stonewall presents an annual series of exhibitions, programs, workshops, and discussions with a goal to connect members of our community with a wide variety of ideas and perspectives.