Celebrating Innovation: Women’s History Walk to Showcase the Woman Behind GPS
Celebrating Innovation: Women’s History Walk to Showcase the Woman Behind GPS
Throughout Virginia’s history, women have taken unprecedented steps to invent, achieve and innovate. To honor their footsteps, the National Center for Women’s Innovations and Alexandria Celebrates Women, in partnership with the Alexandria, VA America 250 Committee, will join forces to sponsor a FREE fitness and history walk to Alexandria’s Virginia Tech Innovation campus at Potomac Yards (3625 Potomac Ave) Thursday July 3, 2025.
Participants will meet outside the Braddock Road Metro Station at 7 am EDT and walk the Potomac Yard Trail* to the VA Tech Innovation campus where a 9 a.m. event will be held to honor Gladys West and her trailblazing role enabling GPS (Global Positioning System). West’s traveling exhibit -- showcasing the odds she overcame – has attracted thousands of visitors and inspired students of all ages. The University of Colorado/Denver will host the West exhibit for the upcoming academic year.
The Trail parallels a portion of Alexandria’s historic railroad passages. Set at a leisurely pace, the trek will also enable walkers to explore the history of women and railroads.
Participants may also travel to or from the Tech campus event via the Braddock Road and Potomac Yards Metro Stations.
FREE registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-goodbye-salute-to-the-dr-west-exhibit-tickets-1434828192749
For more information, contact Jane Plitt, National Center for Women's Innovations at jane@womensinnovations.org.
*The 2.1 mile Potomac Yard Trail runs from the Braddock Road Metro Station North along Potomac Avenue to connect with the Four Mile Run Trail. This trail features exercise equipment, basketball courts, tennis courts, and numerous playgrounds.
About the Office of Historic Alexandria
The Office of Historic Alexandria preserves and shares the history of the City of Alexandria with eight museums, historic sites, archives, archaeology, tours, exhibits and public programs. Through powerful storytelling and confronting the City’s past, Historic Alexandria enriches the present and inspires the future. We enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors and serve as a partner in the City’s equity and inclusion initiatives. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic.
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.
If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you, please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-3960.