Wyoming Celebrates Milestone 150th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage

CHEYENNE, Wyo., Dec. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wyoming Office of Tourism will join the state in celebrating the 150th anniversary of women's suffrage tomorrow. On Dec. 10, 1869, the Wyoming territory became the first in the nation to guarantee women unconditional suffrage including the right to vote, hold public office and serve on a jury – 50 years before the 19^th Amendment allowed the same rights throughout the United States.

To honor the trailblazing women throughout Wyoming's history, tomorrow will be declared by Governor Mark Gordon as "Wyoming Women's Suffrage Day." In Cheyenne, Wyoming's capital, locals and visitors can take part in the celebration with activities including a women's suffrage anniversary march, informative lectures, and tours of the historic and newly renovated State Capitol building. A full list of activities can be found here: travelwyoming.com/suffrage-events

"We are proud to be home to milestone firsts for women 150 years ago and strong women of today," said Diane Shober, executive director of Wyoming Office of Tourism. "As the rest of the country prepares to celebrate women's suffrage, in Wyoming we are continuing to mark our legacy and welcome guests to experience the pioneer spirit of the West."   

The anniversary is the culmination of the "Year of Wyoming Women," which communities have honored around the state through women-only retreats, specials events, art exhibits featuring Wyoming artists and more. Wyoming will continue to celebrate women's suffrage anniversaries in 2020.

"As we approach the 150th anniversary of the first vote cast by a woman under full civic equality to men in the world, Louisa Swain, I invite you to explore Wyoming's history and heritage, and to discover why women have been so important to our state," Governor Gordon said.

With additional women's suffrage milestone anniversaries approaching in 2020, Wyoming wants to encourage travelers to continue to plan a visit to celebrate the history and the strong women of today. From Cheyenne to Laramie and Cody to Casper, the state will celebrate with activities, events, retreats and must-visit historic destinations that commemorate the spirit of Wyoming as the first frontier for women.

To help travelers plan their next Wyoming adventure, Wyoming has compiled a list of official events celebrating Wyoming women and the anniversary throughout the year. Travelers are also encouraged to use #ThatsWYWomen to share their experiences on social and get more inspiration for how others are marking the anniversary.

Dates of Significance

• Dec. 10, 2019 - 150th anniversary of Governor Campbell signing the Women's Suffrage Act into law. Wyoming's Territorial Legislature passed the first unconditional Suffrage Act which also included that women could hold any office as afforded to men.
• Jan. 27, 2020 - 100th anniversary of State of Wyoming ratifying the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
• July 10, 2020 - 130th anniversary of Statehood Day - Wyoming enters the Union as the 44th state and the only state to have a Suffrage Act ratified into their state constitution.
• Aug 18, 2020 - 100th anniversary of the 19^th Amendment being ratified and amended to the U.S. Constitution.
• Sept 6, 2020 - 150th anniversary of the Women's First Vote - In Laramie, Wyoming, Louisa Swain became the first woman in the world to cast a ballot under full civic equality to men.

Twenty years after the 1869 law passed, Wyoming sought statehood and it famously refused to enter the Union if women's suffrage was not upheld. And in 1890, Wyoming officially entered the Union as the 44^th state and the first state to allow women these rights.

For more information about Wyoming's 150^th anniversary of Women's Suffrage and Wyoming Office of Tourism, visit the award-winning site, TravelWyoming.com.

About the Wyoming Office of Tourism
The Wyoming Office of Tourism is the only state agency charged with promoting and marketing Wyoming as a vacation destination to domestic and international travelers. The ninth-largest state in terms of area, Wyoming is also the least populated state in the country with an estimated 580,000 residents. Wyoming is home to many firsts, including the country's first national park (Yellowstone), first national monument (Devils Tower) and first national forest (Shoshone). In addition, Wyoming was the first government in the world to grant women the right to vote and will celebrate the 150th anniversary of this important milestone in 2019. These special places, along with other natural wonders like Grand Teton National Park and the Bighorn Mountains as well as Wyoming's heartfelt cowboy hospitality, welcome millions of visitors annually. To learn more about Wyoming, visit TravelWyoming.com.

SOURCE Wyoming Office of Tourism

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