To commemorate Women's History and the 100th Anniversary of Amendment 19 giving women the right to vote, a mini-exhibit will be on display: This Shall be the Land for Women: Examining Women’s Suffrage in Colorado.

Our temporary exhibit will highlight Colorado’s historic role in granting women the right to vote by popular referendum in 1893, a full 27 years before the federal amendment.

This achievement is significant but not without controversy. The Colorado Territorial Legislature had an opportunity to grant women suffrage during the state’s constitutional convention in 1876, but they demurred. Instead, they conceded to women voting in local school district elections only.

Additionally, they placed a measure on the ballot for voters not legislators to decide on women’s suffrage. With enormous opposition from saloon owners, church leaders and newspapers, the measure was defeated by a 2 to 1 margin.