Penned in 1848, the trailblazing Declaration of Sentiments dared to demand equal rights for women. This groundbreaking declaration, modeled after the Declaration of Independence, was written by distinguished activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton and signed by more than 100 participants at the notorious Woman’s Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848.

The Declaration defined prominent critiques of women’s inferior legal, economic, and civil status, and shaped women’s rights activism for decades to come. Now, the oldest known original copy of the Declaration of Sentiments is on exhibit. As we look back on 250 years since the founding of the United States and 150 years since Colorado became a state, this monumental document gives visitors a chance to reflect on early demands for women’s rights.