Celebrating the Legacy: 150 Years of Mary McLeod Bethune

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – July 10, 2025, will celebrate 150 years since the birth of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, a significant figure in America’s history known for her groundbreaking work in championing the rights of African Americans and women.

Dr. Bethune was born on July 10, 1875, in Mayesville, South Carolina, to parents who were formerly enslaved. She became renowned as the founder of today’s Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Her unwavering commitment to education and civil rights established her as a key driver of 20th-century social progress.

To honor her impactful legacy, a bronze statue of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was revealed in August 2022 at the Bethune Pavilion within Riverfront Esplanade, located at 249 N. Beach Street in Daytona Beach. This statue stands as a tribute to her lasting influence and inspiration.

Additionally, her influence is commemorated in Washington, D.C., with a statue in Lincoln Park. This statue, originally dedicated in 1974, was re-dedicated in 2024 on its 50th anniversary, in partnership with the National Council of Negro Women.

The Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial in Lincoln Park, Washington, D.C. (National Park Service)

A special celebration of Dr. Bethune’s 150-year legacy will take place at Lincoln Park in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.

Vincent Vaise, Program Manager for Visitor Services at the National Park Service, highlights her significance, saying, “Mary McLeod Bethune was a visionary. She was the most powerful leader in the Civil Rights movement during the 1940s and turned education into a tool for liberation and civic power. We hope people of all ages join us to celebrate her 150th birthday and be inspired by the example she set.”

FILE – U.S. President Harry Truman, from left, poses with Mary McLeod Bethune, retiring founder-president of the National Council of Negro Women, Madame Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Ambassador of India to the United States, and Dr. Ralph Bunche, United Nations Director of Trusteeship, in Washington on Nov. 15, 1949. They were presented with citations for outstanding citizenship. Civil rights leader and trailblazing educator Mary McLeod Bethune has became the first Black person elevated by a state for recognition in the Capitols Statuary Hall. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges, File) (Copyright 1949 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s life and work continue to inspire generations, reminding us of the power of education, leadership, and the fight for equality. This milestone anniversary celebrates not only her remarkable achievements but also her lasting impact on American society.