On February 11, 2026, the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House is hosting its annual birthday celebration, an evening designed to coincide with Susan B. Anthony’s birthday on February 15, and to mark a series of institutional milestones. According to Allison Hinman, President and CEO of the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, the date has long carried symbolic meaning for the organization, reflecting Anthony’s own tradition of using her birthday as a moment to gather supporters and sustain her work.
This year’s event carries additional significance. The evening will recognize the Museum’s 80 years of public operation, honor the retirement of longtime leader Deborah L. Hughes, and acknowledge Hinman’s transition into the chief executive role. “The dinner is a celebration that brings together the institution’s history and its next chapter,” Hinman explains. “With anniversaries and leadership milestones converging, the evening carries a distinctive sense of purpose.”
The fundraiser dinner will take place at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center, located near the historic campus. Hinman explains that the program begins with a reception at 5:00 p.m., followed by the main dinner and program at 6:00 p.m. The evening is expected to run approximately two to two-and-a-half hours and will include a call to support the Museum’s annual fund, along with a birthday cake in keeping with tradition.
From Hinman’s perspective, the annual dinner reflects the strength of community engagement in Rochester. She has noted that attendance often reaches between 600 and 800 guests and that the event consistently draws supporters who value the Museum’s educational mission. “It is one of my favorite events of the year,” Hinman explains. “It represents the best of Rochester, with people coming together to show their support for the Museum and the work we do to preserve this history and keep it accessible for the community.”
Guests attending the dinner will also experience a special performance by Danyel Fulton, the actress who portrays Ida B. Wells-Barnett in the Broadway musical Suffs. According to Hinman, Fulton will perform two musical numbers during the celebration, offering a live connection to another influential figure in the suffrage and human rights movement. Hinman has explained that recognizing Wells-Barnett is particularly meaningful because of her historical connection to Susan B. Anthony. Wells-Barnett stayed in Anthony’s home on multiple occasions, a detail that reflects the collaborative networks that shaped reform movements of the era.
Hinman has emphasized that the Museum seeks to present history as a collective effort rather than a single narrative. She explains that Anthony understood the importance of everyday individuals and community leaders working together to advance broader change, and that this perspective continues to shape how the institution approaches interpretation today.
That philosophy also informs the Museum’s plans for campus expansion. The forthcoming facility will provide additional space to explore stories beyond Anthony’s own biography, including figures such as Wells-Barnett and Mary Church Terrell. She notes that the expanded venue will allow for self-guided exhibitions and a broader narrative context, giving visitors more time and space to engage with the interconnected history of the women’s rights movement.
Attendance at the February 11 dinner is open to the public. According to Hinman, individuals must reserve their spot, either as single seats or hosting full tables of up to 10 guests. She adds that attendees are encouraged to consider Museum membership or contribute to the annual fund, which supports general operations and daily programming at the historic site.
As the organization prepares for the upcoming celebration, Hinman has framed the evening as both a reflection on legacy and a moment of continuity. From her perspective, the birthday fundraiser honors Susan B. Anthony’s longstanding practice of mobilizing community support while reinforcing the Museum’s ongoing role as a place for learning and civic engagement.
“We couldn’t do this work without the support of our community,” Hinman says. “This evening is about coming together to honor the past, invest in the present, and make sure these stories remain accessible and meaningful for generations to come.”