BUFFALO, N.Y. — As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we're going to get you connected to an effort to change the landscape. If you think about it, there aren’t many statues remembering the women who made history in Western New York. In fact, only 2% of statues in Buffalo are of women.  

The landscape of downtown Buffalo is riddled with women's history. But, you really wouldn't know. Right now, out of the 106 public statues in Buffalo, there are just two that celebrate women. 

Karen King, who is the Executive Director of the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women, hopes to change that. 

“We should never have to say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that, or I had no idea,’” King said.  

Take Lafayette Hotel for example. Did you know this grand building stands at the corner of Layfette Square and Clinton Street because of a woman? 

Louise Bethune, of course, the very famous architect who designed the Lafayette Hotel," King explained. "She was one of the first women architects in the United States.” 

This is where the commission King heads comes in. It's working on a project called ‘Trailblazing Women of WNY.’ The monument project has been in the works since 2018. Soon, three statues will be placed in front of the Buffalo and Erie County Library’s downtown location. One will celebrate Mary Talbert.

“The very famous civil rights and human rights advocate, who did a lot of her work here in WNY," King said. 

The other will be of Geraldine Sid-tahGreen, who was a member of the Seneca Nation and an educator. The third will be of Bethune. 

But, it won't become a reality without you. King says on their webpage, you can either donate or suggest other women be memorialized. 

The hope is to change the landscape and start a trail.

"We could have 20 statues, we could 30 statues, we could have 30 plaques," King explained. "We need to recognize the contributions women have made to our community," King said. "It should no longer be silenced." 

No doubt, seeing other women stand tall, and be recognized for their contributions will inspire younger generations to be change-makers, too. 

They need $500,000 to place the first statues. Hopefully, those will be up sometime this year, or early next year.