Press Release

Women’s History Month Stories & Experiences at History Colorado

DENVER — February 24, 2026 — Colorado’s women are trailblazers who have revolutionized women’s roles in our society, democracy, and economy, and continue to do so today. At History Colorado museums and historic sites across the state, Women’s History Month is an opportunity to reflect on achievements that have rippled out across the Centennial state and the country.

Woman putting up voting billboard in Denver in the early 1900s

Woman putting up voting billboard in Denver, 1916. Library of Congress.

PRESS CONTACT
Angelika Albaladejo, Manager of Communications and Public Relations
(720) 541-2334 | hc_media@state.co.us

 

From securing women’s rights to vote to accessing credit from banks, navigating property rights following shifting borders to protesting against sexism and racism – the stories of Colorado’s women capture their persistence and perseverance.    

Throughout the month and beyond, the Center for Colorado Women’s History is inviting the community to experience bold exhibits, personalized tours, and special events and programs. Located in the heart of Denver within a spacious historic home built in 1883, this History Colorado museum is the state’s first to focus on the past, present and future achievements of Colorado women. 

Statewide, History Colorado is offering many ways to connect with the state’s rich women’s history – from museum exhibitions to preservation projects, events, tours, and storytelling through magazine articles and podcasts. History Colorado has also compiled a list of resources, such as photographs and artifacts in our collection.

 

Women’s History Stories in Exhibitions:

The oldest-known original printing of the Declaration of Sentiments is coming to the Center for Colorado Women’s History for a limited time: March 6 to July 6. This groundbreaking declaration dared to demand equal rights for women – helping launch the women's suffrage movement, and starting to pave the way for Colorado to become the first state where men voted to extend that right to women. Modeled after the Declaration of Independence, it was written by prominent activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton and signed by more than 100 participants at the trailblazing Women’s Rights Convention in 1848. This is the first time the Declaration is traveling to Denver, on loan from the Library of Congress. 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. Also on display is a remarkable letter sent by Susan B. Anthony congratulating Colorado activist Ellis Meredith on the successful inclusion of women in the electorate – more than 25 years before the rest of the nation.

Ms. Destiny at the Center for Colorado Women’s History is closing on March 27 – so Women’s History Month is your last chance to see it! Ms. Destiny explores the stories of seven unique and resilient Colorado women who took fate into their hands, overcame barriers, and defined their realities. Connect with the experiences of women like the beautiful and alluring Elizabeth “Baby Doe” Tabor, the resilient and diplomatic Chipeta, and the perseverant and stylish Katherine McHale Slaughterback – better known as “Rattlesnake Kate.”

Domestic Bliss is a textile art installation at the Center for Colorado Women’s History opening on February 25. Created from found objects associated with domestic life, such as upcycled fabric and vintage books, Domestic Bliss elevates traditional “women’s work” while confronting the enduring struggle for gender equality. Colorado textile artist Bethany Economos crafted this installation of 2- and 3-D pieces that center around poetry excerpts written by Colorado poet Kathleen Willard – all meticulously embroidered into once-loved aprons, tablecloths, and everyday furniture.

38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State is an exhibition at the History Colorado Center exploring why it took Colorado five tries and more than fifteen years to become the 38th star on our nation’s flag. Once statehood was nearly achieved in 1876, some Colorado women saw it as an opportunity to gain the right to vote. They formed the Territorial Women’s Suffrage Association and elected their president: Alida Cornelia Avery, one of the first women licensed to practice medicine in Colorado. These women petitioned to include women’s voting rights in the state Constitution. Delegates rejected the proposal but agreed to a compromise: creating a pathway by promising a future vote on the issue.    

Moments That Made US, a remarkable exhibition at the History Colorado Center tracing 800 years of U.S. history, explores turning points that have tested the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence, including steps towards women’s rights:

  • Western women led the movement for women’s voting rights. Colorado voters marked their ballots for equal suffrage in 1893 – making it the first state where men voted to extend that right to women. Ellis Meredith and Elizabeth Piper Ensley helped lead the movement in Colorado and later nationwide.
  • Women fueled the civil rights movements of the 1960s. Helen Giron-Mushfiq is among the women who joined Denver’s Brown Berets during El Movimiento. She and other Brown Beret women led community programs providing food, clothing and other essentials – all while confronting sexism and risking their safety for the cause.
  • American women couldn’t get credit from banks until 1974. Denver became the second city in the nation to open a bank dedicated to serving women in 1978. Women deposited nearly $1.2 million on the day the Denver Women’s Bank first opened its doors. Before then, even prominent women like the state’s first female Congressional representative  Patricia “Pat” Schroeder were denied access to credit cards.

Borderlands of Southern Colorado at the History Colorado Center includes the stories of Mestizo and Indigenous women who lived on the borderlands during a time of shifting power and land ownership. Before the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, wealthy and prominent Hispano women had more rights than their white counterparts, and sometimes owned property. After the Mexican American War and the U.S. takeover of southwestern lands, women like Teresita Sandoval and Amache Ochinee Prowers grappled with the changes.

What's Your Story? at the History Colorado Center includes the stories of Colorado women who embody superpowers that impact on the community, state, and nation. Women like Amache Ochinee Prowers, Dana Crawford, Hattie McDaniel, Rachel Noel, and so many more are featured in this celebration of Colorado changemakers.

Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects at the History Colorado Center includes artifacts like Baby Doe Tabor’s bedroom vanity, Quon Tai “Daisy” Yuen Chin’s wedding dress, an 1884 Ballot Box and Case – all demonstrating women’s significant and ongoing contributions to Colorado’s history.

Proclaiming Colorado's Black History is a traveling exhibition now at the El Pueblo History Museum featuring fascinating stories and artifacts from the experiences of Black Coloradans – from their early exploration and settlement in the Centennial state to their ongoing achievements and the places they’ve transformed. Black women’s experiences are highlighted, such as: 

  • Clara Brown, a formerly enslaved woman, who joined some gold-seeking Kansans traveling to Colorado. Her slaveholder had sold her relatives to other plantations, and Brown hoped to reunite with her daughter. In Central City, she became a community fixture as a businesswoman and philanthropist during the 1860s and 1870s. Brown finally found her daughter living in Iowa in the 1880s, just a few years before her death. Colorado Governor James Grant and Denver Mayor John Routt both attended her funeral.
  • Alisha Little grew up in Aurora and is achieving success playing basketball and studying nursing in Pueblo. Little was named 2024 Collegiate Women’s Athlete of the Year by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame – the second CSU Pueblo student-athlete to gain the prestigious honor. She is married to former CSU Pueblo basketball player Malcolm Little and has a toddler daughter Genesis, and aims to pursue a career in nursing.

The Ute Indian Museum, nestled in the heart of traditional Ute territory on the Western Slope, is a place to reflect on the life of Chipeta, the influential wife of Chief Ouray, who the United States recognized as the de facto Ute leader in the late nineteenth century. Chipeta’s commitment to peace helped shape Colorado as it was incorporated into the United States, even as it resulted in the removal of her people from their ancestral homelands. The Ute Indian Museum and grounds are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The grounds include the grave where Chipeta was buried after her death on reservation lands in Utah in 1924 – the same year the United States granted citizenship to Native Americans.

 

Women’s History Events & Activities:

Women’s History Month Group Tours | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | Times available throughout March

The Women’s History Tour offers a snapshot of how women across Colorado have lived from pre-statehood through today – highlighting experiences of suffrage, domestic work, World War I, and the Arts and Crafts Movement in Colorado. A docent guides visitors through the museum, treating them to 45 minutes of storytelling about the remarkable women of Colorado through fascinating spaces and artifacts – including a rare first printing of the Declaration of Sentiments on display in Denver for the first time ever. The Center for Colorado Women’s History offers private tours and discounted rates for groups of 10 or more. Contact CCWH@state.co.us to book a group tour, or go to historycolorado.org/plan-your-visit-CCWH to purchase individual tour or general admission tickets.

International Women’s Day | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | March 7, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. & March 8, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Celebrate International Women’s Day with free entry on both Saturday and Sunday at the Center for Colorado Women’s History. View the exhibits in this historic house, take part in a women’s history scavenger hunt, and celebrate the accomplishments of women both past and future. Register ahead for free admission.

Members-Only Digital Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Women’s History | Virtual
History Colorado Center | March 17, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
History Colorado members can explore stories and artifacts of women who danced with George Washington, broke political and social barriers, lived through wars and disasters, gained and lost a fortune, and whose political, social, and cultural experiences shaped our state and country. Shaun Boyd – History Colorado’s Curator of Politics and Government and Curator of Archives – will guide members through a show-and-tell about women who were present for famous events in the United States and World History, and everyday women who created the world we live in today. To join the Zoom presentation, you must be a History Colorado member and reserve your spot. Please reach out to membership@state.co.us with questions.

Through the Looking Glass: Writing the Self-Portrait Poem | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | March 28, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Join feminist poet Kathleen Willard for a poetry writing workshop as part of the Center for Colorado Women’s History’s exhibit Domestic Bliss! Gather your personal memories to create a full-bodied self-portrait – writing poems inspired by Willard’s Self Portrait of a Young Feminist, Circa 1972 and the Declaration of Sentiments. No prior experience is needed, and all materials are provided. You must be 18 years or older to join. Class size is limited, so purchase your ticket in advance to reserve your spot.

 

Preservation of Women’s History:

Colorado Heritage for All aims to add historic designations for 150 unrecognized historic resources that tell the stories of underrepresented communities by the end of 2026. Recent additions to the State and/or National Register of Historic Places highlight the important role women have played in creating the Centennial State, including:

  • First Baptist Church, a Late Gothic Revival church in Salida, was an important meeting and organizing space for the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.
  • Eighth Street Baptist Church, a historically Black church in Pueblo, is a rare example of how Black women helped fight for women’s voting rights.
  • Colorado Women's College, the state’s first women’s college and one of a handful of private institutions of higher education for women in the Centennial State.

 

Women’s History Resources and Publications:

The Colorado Magazine has published many articles related to women’s history over its more than 100 years of operations, including:

History Colorado’s critically acclaimed podcast, Lost Highways: Dispatches from the Shadows of the Rocky Mountains, expands the history of the American West by exploring how overlooked stories from the past have shaped current world events, including these episodes focused on women’s history:

The Museum of Memory is History Colorado’s public history initiative that works together with Colorado residents to co-author a shared history. Several projects feature women’s voices through gathering oral histories, photographs and other archival materials, including the:

 

Oral Histories by Colorado Women: 

“Oral history interview of Grace Hale” - Stan Oliner, 1990s, 2020.27.3

“Oral history of Virginia B. Ricard” - Renee Meade, 2017, 2021.65.1

“Oral history of Sister Cheyenne Demure” - Holly Fitzpatrick, 2021,  2022.2.1

“Oral history of Patricia Schroeder” - Rachael A. Storm, 2022.104.1

“Oral history interview with Geraldine Bean” - David McComb, 1975, AR.OH.257

“Oral history interview with Antonia Brico” - David McComb, 1975, AR.OH.262

“Oral history interview with Dana Crawford” - David McComb, 1975, AR.OH.281

“Oral history of Lark L. Birdsong” - Rachael A. Storm, 2022, 2022.28.1

“Oral history of Flo Phillips and Linda Scherrer” - Rachael A. Storm, 2021, 2022.124.1

“Oral history of Betsy Marston” - Rachael A. Storm, 2022, 2022.34.1

“Oral history of Helena Reynoso” - 2021, 2022.47.3

“Oral history of Dr. Bonnie Camp” - Rachael A. Storm, 2022, 2022.123.1

“Oral history interview of Alice Kelly” - Rena Fowler, 2014, AR.OH.604.10

“Oral history of Lucy Walker” - Dexter Nelson II & Rachael A. Storm, 2021, 2020.50.2

 

Oral Histories by Women from El Movimiento Committee/Chicana Movement: 

“Oral history of Carlotta D. Espinoza” - Daniel Salazar, 2018, 2022.15.3

“Oral history of Emilia Alvarado” - Daniel Salazar, 2018, 2022.15.5

“Oral history of Flor Lovato” -Daniel Salazar, 2018, 2022.15.6

“Oral history of Susana Rodriguez de Leon” - Daniel Salazar, 2018, 2022.15.20

 

Historic Photos of Colorado Women:

“Governor Oliver Shoup signs the 19th Amendment” - Denver Post (Colo.), 1919, 86.296.3617

“Photograph” - Minnie J. Reynolds, Founder of Denver Woman's Press Club, 1990-1920, 89.451.3312

“Photograph” - Colorado suffragists c. 1910, 90.388.16

“Photograph” - suffrage billboard, Stuart Mace, 1916, PH.PROP.4479

“Gladstone” - woman in an office in Gladstone, 1911, 82.197.43

“Dining tent area” - miner’s dining tent, likely Gold King Mine, 1887-1910, 82.197.44

“Lydia Wood Tufts (1820-1899) and Anna Kate Davis” - 1856-1857, 83.4.454

“Photograph” - Ludlow Strike, 1914, 83.155.64

“Men and women at Balcony House, Mesa Verde National Park” - George L. Beam, 1920-1930, 83.472.1151

“Camp at Bear Lake 9500 ft.” - Colorado Mountain Club, George Harvey, jr., 1913, 83.495.1.16

“Loch Vale- 5:35am” - Colorado Mountain Club, George Harvey, jr., 1913, 83.495.1.104

“Relaxation” - Colorado Mountain Club, George Harvey, jr., 1913, 83.495.1.127

“The Narrows” - Colorado Mountain Club, George Harvey, jr., 1913, 83.495.1.137

“Emma Barnard” - Colorado Mountain Club, George Harvey, jr., 1913, 83.495.3.101

“Colorado Mountain Club ballgame in Clear Creek County” - George Harvey, jr., 1915, 83.495.4.64

“Colorado Mountain Club members” - George Harvey, jr., 1915, 83.495.6.86

“Colorado Mountain Club en route to Fern Lake” - George Harvey, jr., 1923, 83.495.7.5

“Two Native American women” - William G. Chamberlain, 1880-1889, 84.192.114

“No. 22 The Seed Gatherers” - John K. Hillers, 1873, 84.192.1504

“Mining families” - 1890-1910, 84.193.1

“Photograph” - American Indians in Trinidad, 1920-1930, 84.193.14

“Women and children in mining camp” - 1890-1900, 84.193.35

“A Woman and her boarders” - 1890-1910, 84.193.162

“Photograph” - Hispanic Family in Trinidad, 1940-1955, 84.193.201

“Photograph” - portrait of three young women, 1885-1895, 84.193.215

“Carriage from Stonewall to Trinidad” - 1890-1905, 84.193.1613

“Woman with rifle and dog” - Herman Frederick Hall, 1920-1921, 84.371.38

“Sugar Pie Honey Punch, Sugar Kill Gang, Rocky Mountain Rollergirls ; Photograph of Rocky Mountain Rollergirls Event Close Up”  - Mike McGrath, 2017, 2020.2.3

“Lou Colacito, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, 1944-45” - All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, 1944-1945, PCCLI4685

“Photograph” - Minnie Cecelia Tucker Love activist and politician, 1915, 89.451.4556

“Consuelo Baca Gonzales and classmates studying for State Board of Nursing exams” - 1927, 89.244.83

“Education - classes - gymnastics - Indian clubs” - Harry H. Buckwalter, 1890-1910,  90.156.1153

“Photograph” - women singing, 1930-1940, 90.260.18

“Photograph” - National Service School students, 1910-1920, 96.97.1

“Industrial Art Dept.” - 1910-1920, 2000.129.582

 

Artifacts in the Collection: 

Women’s Suffrage Collection

“1893-1993 Colorado Suffrage Centennial” - Topco, Paper bag, 1993, 93.392.21

“The Mauro Special ; Woman's Safety Bicycle” - Americo Mauro, Bicycle, 1898-1902, 98.274.1

“1893 Pitkin County Ballot” - 1893, 2020.9.1

“Letter from Susan B. Anthony to Ellis Meredith” - Letter, 1893, MSS.427.10

“Equal Suffrage by Helen Grenfell : Being a reprint of a series of articles in Clay's Review” - Helen L. Grenfell, Pamphlet, 1905, MSS.427.72

“The Star Extra Vol 1 No 1” - Pamphlet, 1905, MSS.427.86

“Women Citizens of Colorado; The Great Divide” - Ellis Meredith, Pamphlet, 1895, MSS.427.93

“Colorado Women who vote by Alice Rohe; Human Life for February, 1909“ -Alice Rhoe, Clipping, 1909, MSS.427.95

“Why women want to vote” - Flyer, MSS.427.108

“Powder box” - 1920s, 72.89.61

“Representative Women of Colorado: Costumes” - Molly Brown, Works Progress Administration, Painting, 1925-1935 79.149.46

“Representative Women of Colorado: Costumes” - Genevieve Chandler Phipps,” Works Progress Administration, Painting, 1925-1935 79.149.49

“Set, doll” Madame Alexander Co., doll,  81.159.261

“Set of 9 Oil Paintings on Tin (Colorado wild flowers)” - Mary Ann Hodgson Collins, paintings, 1878-1880, H.7177.1

“"STEMinist" Demonstration Sign used in Denver march For Science” -Melissa Stoltz Bechhoefer, poster, 2017, 2018.69.5

“Looking West From Arvada” -Ann E. Jones, 1927, 2020.53.1

“Write Women Back into History; Self-expression button” - Button, 1986-1993, 2021.11.5

“Long white linen apron with rickrack and crochet hem. Worn by Mary Gertrude (Brown) Working, female economist with a PhD from Harvard” -1913-1969, H.7579.147

“Cortejando Búhos (Courting Owls)” - Rita Flores de Wallace, tapestry, 2006, 2021.36.2

“Fruitas (Fruit)” - Rita Flores de Wallace, 1991, 2021.36.4

 

About Center for Colorado Women’s History
The Center for Colorado Women’s History is the first state museum focused on the past, present and future achievements of Colorado women. The Center focuses on scholarship, research, public programs, narrative, lectures, and exhibitions that expand the understanding and collective memory of the history of women in Colorado. The Center for Colorado Women’s History is a community museum of History Colorado.

The Center for Colorado Women’s History is located at 1310 Bannock Street, in Denver and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.h-co.org/ccwh or call 303-620-4933.

About History Colorado
History Colorado is a 147-year-old institution that offers access to our state’s history through enriching experiences at eleven museums and historic sites. As an agency of the State of Colorado and a non-profit organization, History Colorado is committed to serving all Coloradans through generational work that centers communities, deepens knowledge and catalyzes the transformative power of history.

History Colorado is also home to a free public research center, people-centered preservation work done by the State Historical Fund and the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of the State Archaeologist, the State Historians Council, and many other community-driven public history projects such as the Museum of Memory. History Colorado stewards more than 15 million objects, photographs, and archival resources that make up the State’s collection, and serve tens of thousands of learners of all ages each year. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado