By 1812Blockhouse; Ohio. Find It Here.
Tuesday marked the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which allowed universal suffrage regardless of sex.
To mark the occasion, we are first sharing a special “Summer Road Trip” which looks at a brand new Women in History Road Trip launched by Ohio. Find it Here. and then looking local at four Richland Roots posts by 1812Blockhouse that profile Richland County women who have made a difference.
In honor of major milestones in women’s history and the centennial of the 19th Amendment that granted women the right to vote on August 18, 1920, Ohio. Find It Here. developed a Women in History Road Trip. Eight stops in eight different Ohio cities, both urban and rural, provide travelers and history buffs the opportunity to experience Ohio’s strong connection to the women’s suffrage movement.
“Celebrating women who through dedication and personal sacrifice achieved great things, like women’s suffrage, is the goal of our Ohio. Find It Here. Women in History Road Trip,” said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. “Many trail-blazing women have, and do, call Ohio home and we are better because of it.”
Mihalik made history herself by becoming the first woman to hold the post of Mayor of the City of Findlay, Ohio, taking office in 2012 as the 55th mayor. While holding office, Mihalik bolstered job creation, improved delivery of city services to residents and focused on flood mitigation.
“The women in history road trip is an educational excursion that explores Ohio’s rich history.” said Matt MacLaren, director of Ohio. Find It Here. “It is the perfect road trip for this summer as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage.”
Stops on the Ohio. Find It Here, Women in History Road Trip include:
- Sauder Village’s 1920’s Main Street Experience (Archbold, OH) – Travel back in time from 1803 through the 1920’s at Sauder Village’s 1920’s Main Street Experience, which opens to the public on August 15, 2020.
- Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH) – Marvel at Oberlin College’s beautiful campus and explore the first college in America to grant undergraduate degrees to women in a coeducational program and the first to adopt a policy to admit students of color. Guided tours are available on a limited basis.
- International Women’s Air and Space Museum (Cleveland, OH) – With a mission of showcasing the history and culture of women in aviation & aerospace while inspiring future generations, The International Women’s Air and Space Museum is the best place to celebrate women who have reached new heights. Admission is free.
- Upton House and Women’s Suffrage Museum (Warren, OH) – in 1919, Ohio became the fifth state to ratify the 19th Amendment and also passed a bill ensuring Ohio women’s right to vote in the presidential election in November 1920. Learn about the history behind the Amendment and the struggles it took to achieve woman’s suffrage at the Upton House and Women’s Suffrage Museum.
- First Ladies’ National Historic Site (Canton, OH) – Located in the home of First Lady Ida Saxton-McKinley, learn about the wives of the chief executives and how the position of First Lady has changed over time.
- Ohio Statehouse Museum Ladies’ Gallery (Columbus, OH) – Abigail Adams famously told her husband to “Remember the ladies,” and you can honor that sentiment by visiting the Ohio Statehouse Museum Ladies’ Gallery. Discover Ohio’s role in the suffrage movement and historical clothes and banners. The Ohio Statehouse Museum is currently closed to visitors, but self-guided tours of the Ohio Statehouse are open.
- The National Annie Oakley Center at the Garst Museum (Greenville, OH) – Born and raised in Darke County, Ohio, Annie Oakley rose to fame through her physical athleticism and ability to excel in a man’s world. Learn more about the first American female superstar at the Garst Museum.
- Harriet Beecher Stowe House (Cincinnati, OH) – Visit the home of activist and author Harriet Beecher Stowe to celebrate her life, family and legacy. The museum will host multiple events and exhibits celebrating women, including Ohio Women Vote: 100 Years of Change, Women’s Suffrage: Myth & Reality and a Cincinnati Suffrage Walking Tour. Tours are available by appointment.
Be sure to check each location before visiting for any amended procedures and visiting hours as well as the safety requirements to keep employees and visitors safe.
The history of Mansfield and Richland County is full of similar stories, with women not only contributing to areas of business, commerce, and civic life, but in many cases leading the way.
Mansfield has had a woman mayor, and the village of Bellville currently has one; many city and village councils have become more diverse and inclusive. One wonders what Mansfield business leaders would have thought in 1920 about us having a woman at the helm of Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development in 2020?
We’re always looking for stories about former men and women who called Richland County home and had creative, dynamic life stories. Here are four posts in our Richland Roots series that profile lives of local women:
Richland Roots: The Tragic Tale Of Beautiful Miss Mansfield
Richland Roots: Women’s Suffrage And Children’s Illustrator Emily Hall Chamberlin
Richand Roots: The Gelatin Queen, Rose Knox
Richland Roots: From Lexington To The University Of Michigan – The Life Of Olive Anderson
Photo: Preservation Ohio
