Wyoming House for Historic Women facts for kids

The Wyoming House For Historic Women is a special museum. It is also called the Wyoming Women's History House. You can find it in downtown Laramie, Wyoming, USA. This museum celebrates the amazing things 13 women from Wyoming did.

It was started by the Louisa Swain Foundation. This group honors Louisa Swain. She was the first woman in the United States to vote in a general election. She voted on September 6, 1870, right there in Laramie, Wyoming. The museum first opened its doors in 2012. The Wyoming State Historical Society even says Louisa Swain was the "first woman in the world" to vote with equal rights for men and women.

Outside the museum, you will find the Johnson Lummis Hunkins Plaza. A statue of Louisa Swain stands here. It was put in place in 2005 to honor her. The statue is named "The Franchise." It was created by an artist named John D. Baker.

Amazing Women of Wyoming

The museum tells the stories of these inspiring women:

Pioneers for Voting and Justice

• Louisa Gardner Swain: She was the first woman in the United States to vote. This happened in a general election in 1870.
• Eliza Stewart: She was the first woman in America chosen to serve on a jury. This also happened in 1870.
• Martha Symons Boies Atkinson: She became the first female bailiff in the United States. A bailiff helps keep order in a courtroom. This was in 1870.
• Esther Hobart Morris: She was the first female justice of the peace in the United States. A justice of the peace is like a judge for smaller legal matters. She took on this role in 1870.

Leaders in Government

• Lynne Cheney: She is known as the wife of Vice President Dick Cheney.
• Barbara Cubin: She was the first woman to represent Wyoming in the United States Congress. She started this important job in 1995.
• Verda James: She was the first woman to serve a full term as the Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives. This is a very important leadership role in the state government.
• April Brimmer Kunz: She was the first female President of the Wyoming Senate. She held this leadership position from 2003 to 2005.
• Nellie Tayloe Ross: She became a Governor. She was also the first female Director of the U.S. Mint. The U.S. Mint makes all the coins for the country.
• Estelle Reel: She was the first woman elected to a public office in Wyoming. She was chosen as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1895. This role oversees education in the state.

Trailblazers in Their Fields

• Marilyn S. Kite: She was the first female Chief Justice on the Wyoming Supreme Court. She was chosen for this top judicial role in 2010.
• Anna Edith Miller: She was the first woman to get a license as a nurse in Wyoming. This happened in 1909.
• All Woman Council of Jackson: In 1920, the town of Jackson elected an all-woman city government. This included the mayor and the town council. They then appointed women to other important town jobs.