The 1956 U.S. Women's Open was the eleventh U.S. Women's Open, held July 26–29 at Northland Country Club in Duluth, Minnesota. It was the fourth edition conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA).

Kathy Cornelius won her only major championship in an 18-hole playoff over amateur Barbara McIntire by a score of 75 to 82.

Northland was designed by noted course architect Donald Ross.

Final leaderboard

Saturday, July 28, 1956

Place	Player	Score	To par	Money ($)
T1	Kathy Cornelius	73-77-73-79=302	+7	Playoff
	Barbara McIntire (a)	75-79-77-71=302
T3	Patty Berg	78-75-76-74=303	+8	875
	Marlene Hagge	74-74-75-80=303
5	Joyce Ziske	76-74-79-76=305	+10	600
6	Marilynn Smith	76-78-78-74=306	+11	500
T7	Betty Jameson	77-75-78-77=307	+12	350
	Louise Suggs	76-73-80-78=307
9	Mickey Wright	77-80-78-73=308	+13	250
T10	Fay Crocker	82-80-76-71=309	+14	200
	Mary Lena Faulk	75-75-81-78=309

Source:

Playoff

Sunday, July 29, 1956

Place	Player	Score	To par	Money ($)
1	Kathy Cornelius	40-35=75	+1	1,500
2	Barbara McIntire (a)	41-41=82	+8	0

Source: