Washington (CNN) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday called for more women to get involved in politics and use their power, during a speech celebrating her tenure as the first female House speaker in US history.

Pelosi, who was speaking at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, also donated the gavel she used and pantsuit she wore when she was sworn as the first female speaker of the House in 2007. The museum also announced a new collection focused on how women have impacted history called the American Women's History Initiative.

Pelosi said this nation now stands at a "watershed moment in history" where "women are showing their power."

"To build that future, we need more women engaged in every area of our democracy," Pelosi said, listing women's roles in school boards to voting booths to marches on the National Mall.

She summarized her advice to the next generation of women in one word: confidence.

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