Rosie the Riveter: Kentucky Grit with a Polka-Dot Twist

Rosie Was Real—and Practically Our Neighbor

Okay Moneymakers, gather ‘round, because today we’re talking about one of the original icons of "Yes, women can do it all"—Rosie the Riveter. And spoiler alert: she’s not just a vintage poster or a Halloween costume. She was real, she was fierce, and she was basically from our backyard.

Let’s break it down.

While the name “Rosie the Riveter” started as a catchy tune in a 1940s wartime bop (yes, girl had her own theme song), the face behind the legend belongs to Rose Will Monroe—a Kentucky gal born in Pulaski County who ended up doing the damn thing at an airplane factory in Michigan. She moved up north for work during WWII, just like millions of women who rolled up their sleeves (and tied back their polka-dot bandanas) to fill jobs left vacant by men off at war.

What made Rose the Rosie? Well, the story goes that she happened to be working as a riveter—literally building B-24 bombers with her own two hands—when a filmmaker spotted her and said, “Hey, you kinda are the poster girl.” And just like that, our girl Rose went from factory floor to film set, starring in promotional videos encouraging women to work in war production and Americans to buy war bonds. Iconic behavior.

But here’s where it gets local, baby.

After the war, Rose moved to Clarksville, Indiana—just a quick hop over the river from Louisville. So yes, the woman who inspired a national movement of badass women in the workforce lived right next door. You better believe she brought that same grit and gumption home with her, raising a family and even becoming one of the first women in the area to earn a pilot's license. Because of course she did.

In 2022, Clarksville finally gave her the celebration she deserved with a beautiful bronze statue in Ashland Park overlooking the Ohio River. She’s standing tall in her work boots, reminding all of us that “We Can Do It” isn’t just a poster—it’s a legacy. And it's one we’re still building today.

So next time you see that red bandana or hear someone say “Who run the world?”, remember Rose—our riveter, our neighbor, and forever a woman who put the WOW in World War II.

Keep rivetin’, ladies.

xoxo, 

Amanda Dare