In 1755 colonial heroine Mary Draper Ingles spent part of her Shawnee captivity at Big Bone Lick, Ky. And near what is today’s Portsmouth, Ohio. The people of Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, and Virginia have embraced the frontierswoman’s famous story, and in 2008, she was honored with a bronze statue in front of Boone County, KY, Public Library.

Each year West Virginia honors Mary Draper Ingles with festivals and reenactments; in addition, a bridge in Summers County and a trail in Putnam County are named in her honor.

This collective monument acknowledges the brave, creative and wise contributions of Virginian women. The monument is a metaphor for the often unrecognized voices that have been responsible for shaping our culture, country and Commonwealth for more than 400 years. Its thought-provoking presence complements the traditional heroic monuments that have long stood on Capitol Square. Voices from the Garden honors notable Virginians through an installation composed of historically accurate sculptural representations, designed by Ivan Schwartz of StudioEIS in Brooklyn, N.Y. More than 200 women are honored on the glass Wall of Honor.

The monument features seven, life-sized bronze statues of women from throughout the Commonwealth’s history: Cockacoeske, Pamunkey chieftain; Anne Burras Laydon, Jamestown colonist; Mary Draper Ingles, frontierswoman; Elizabeth Keckly, seamstress and confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln; Laura Copenhaver, entrepreneur in the textile industry; Virginia Randolph, educator; Adèle Clark, suffragist and artist.

1000 Bank St., Richmond, VA 23219

(Inside 9 and Grace Street Entrance to Capitol Square)