Women’s History Month is the perfect time to explore some of the fascinating destinations that are connected to women’s history. Whether you’re a traveler looking for an interesting destination to visit or a history buff just wanting to learn more, a trip to DeSoto Caverns is the perfect opportunity to take a walk in the footsteps of Ida Mathis, a remarkable Alabama woman. At DeSoto Caverns, you can experience the “Pathway of Legends” which shares more of the story and details of this Alabama icon. Ida Mathis’ great-great-granddaughter compiled historical documents and recorded her findings which you which you can listen to as you sit in our cozy gazebo outside the caverns. Read on to take advantage of Women’s History Month by visiting one of the many destinations that are significant to women’s history. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your next trip today!
Here are some interesting quotes and facts about Ida Mathis:
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She purchased DeSoto Caverns in 1912 and her great-grandson and great-great-granddaughter now work at DeSoto Caverns making it a destination for families from across the US.
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Even before women had the right to vote, Ida Mathis was recognized by President Woodrow Wilson for her leadership and John Skelton Williams told her that her efforts had done more toward winning the War (WWI) than any other person in the United States.
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“A matronly figure with a kind face, she did not resemble the “economic Moses of the South” or “Joan of Arc of agriculture,” though contemporary periodicals called her both.” – Alabama Heritage Article “The Crusade of “Mrs. Moses:” Ida Mathis and the Cotton Crisis of 1914”
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She attended the Florence Synodical Female College. Although it was unusual for southern women (in the 1800s) to have college degrees, she even earned a Master’s degree and taught for several years.
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In 1917, Ida Mathis was also the first woman in seventy-five years to deliver the baccalaureate address at Alabama’s Howard College (now Samford University)
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She spoke at the very first meeting of the Alabama Chamber of Commerce on October 26, 1916, and was the only woman on the committee of 100 that worked to secure a nitrate plant for Muscle Shoals. Merle Crowell, in the February 1917 issue of American Magazine declared the “Mrs. G. H. Mathis has been worth $20,000,000 to the state of Alabama.”
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Ida Mathis’ work on agriculture involved her touring the state day after day meeting with poverty-stricken farmers of all races and classes. She acknowledged their sincere desire for a better life. As a woman born in 1856, she chose a revolutionary and radical route to educate people of all classes and races and spoke of all in respectful terms.
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Her fame continued to spread, and she spoke in New York City, Chicago, St. Louis, and other cities, and invitations came from as far as Australia.
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In St. Louis when she appeared before the Farm Mortgage Bankers’ Association, 100,000 copies of her speech entitled “Common Sense for the South” were printed and sent all over the United States and 20,000 to Europe. This speech was so moving that a copy of her address was sent to President Wilson along with resolutions expressing the appreciation of the FMBA for the great service she was rendering to the cause of better social conditions in the South.
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As a field agent of the Alabama Bankers Association, farmer, economist, teacher, lecturer, and reformer, Mrs. Mathis was a woman of foresight who sought to prepare her country for its responsibilities during restless times by sharing freely the successes of her own experiences with others.
This destination is perfect for travelers and historians alike who are looking to learn more about the important contributions women have made throughout history. Come explore with us!
