Blog

Suffragist City

I woke up this morning after the first full night’s sleep in over a month, and celebrated by breaking the recent routine of studio-studio-studio entirely. I ignored the computer, bundled up, and headed down to the state capitol in Oly for a once-in-a-century party.

One hundred years ago today, the state of Washington approved an amendment to the state constitution granting women the right to vote.

To celebrate the occasion, the capitol rotunda played host to the Centennial Day of Jubilation. Forget collaborating on Jell-o recipes; I think even May and Emma would have agreed on how cool an idea this was.

Everyone in the Rotunda got in on the action. The Lieutenant Governor’s office, here, was transformed into a picket line,

while reenactors turned the foyer into a debate chamber.

And upstairs, in the Reception Room, a feisty demonstrator channeled the spirit of the suffragists—

and did her best to drag the audience into the past with her.

It’s too bad I don’t own any Edwardian clothing—I felt a bit underdressed for the occasion.

Still, I managed to channel my inner suffragist, even without the corset and bustle.

And on my twenty-first century overcoat, I found a way to wear a little pride. In my head I did a little thank-you salute to all the Washington suffragists of old. Ladies, we couldn’t celebrate without you.