Photo of Female Elected Officials

Download this high-resolution, 8x10 photo for your own usage. JPG/6 MB.

Speakers & Guests

Meet the speakers and guests from the special commemorative program.

Video of Commemorative Program

Video recording as taken by an audience member, shown in six (6) parts.

Event
Overview

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Minnesota's ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which expanded voting rights for women.

When:

Sunday, September 8, 2019 – 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Where:

Minnesota State Capitol & the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Memorial

Cost:

Free and open to the public!

What:

Special programs, performances and activities for the whole family! See schedule below.

Schedule

Join us to celebrate this Centennial event in Minnesota history and learn more about the women and men who made it happen, and how your voice still matters today in shaping an inclusive democracy.

12:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Capitol Grounds

• Food trucks

• Civic Engagement Fair and voter registration on the front lawn of the Capitol. Vendors and organizations include:

  • American Association of University Women (AAUW)

  • Better Angels

  • CAIR Minnesota

  • Common Cause Minnesota

  • Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)

  • ERA Minnesota

  • FairVote Minnesota

  • League of Women Voters Minnesota

  • Minnesota Historical Society

  • Minnesota Women’s Press

  • MinnPost

  • National Council of Jewish Women

  • Reviving Sisterhood (RISE)

  • Turning Point Suffragist Memorial

  • We Count Minnesota

  • Zeta Phi Beta

• Activities at the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Memorial (located at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Cedar Street)

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Capitol Rotunda

View the suffrage history exhibit "A Century of Civic Engagement: The League of Women Voters Minnesota"

1:00 PM – Capitol Steps

Special photo taken of past and current female elected officials

1:30 PM – Capitol Rotunda

Commemorative program. Meet our featured speakers and guests. Plus, a special performance from the University of Minnesota Marching Band!

2:30 PM – Minnesota Woman Suffrage Memorial

Suffrage parade and dedication ceremony:

• Special performance from the Robbinsdale Cooper Marching Band

• Girl Scouts Flag Ceremony

• Tree Planting and Dedication Ceremony

• "Bring the Memorial Alive" Presentation to remember the women on the Memorial

• Special tribute to author and historian Barbara Stuhler

• Minnesota Suffragists Rally Pop-Up Play (at 12:30pm and 4:15pm)

Maps

Event Map

Find the locations of the day’s activities and organizations, as well as rain-out locations.

Capitol Transit & Parking Map

Parking ramps and lots, bike stations, public transit and accessibility all in one map.

History

On June 4, 1919, the U.S. Congress finally approved the Woman Suffrage Amendment as the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and sent it to the states for ratification. Minnesota became the 15th state to vote YES to ratify on September 8, 1919, during a special session of the State Legislature.

While some saw this moment as the end of a long 72-year fight, Minnesota Suffragist Clara Ueland noted that it was actually just the beginning, as she said, "Today is the commencement rather than the end of our work." Indeed, the 19th Amendment did not provide access to the ballot for all women. Most notably, Native Americans were not enfranchised until 1924, and most people of color couldn't exercise their right to vote until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The work to expand and defend voting rights continues today, inspired by the activists, advocates and suffragists who paved the way forward.

Event Sponsors

AAUW of Minnesota

League of Women Voters Edina

League of Women Voters Minnesota

Minnesota Historical Society

Twin Cities Headshots

Grant Funding

Planning Partners

Marketing

Download and use these resources to help spread the word about the event! You may also use the splash/header at the top of this page (right-click and download to your computer).