Laramie in Albany County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
The Franchise
by John D. Baker
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 1, 2025
1. The Franchise Marker overhead shot
The title The Franchise refers to the recognition and bestowal of the right of women to vote under full civil equality with men. In 1869, Wyoming became the first state or territory to grant this right.
This act was inspirational to both the womens suffrage movement and the cause of civil rights throughout the nation. The nineteenth amendment to the United States Constitution would not be ratified until 1920 - fifty years later.
70 year old Louisa Swain became the worlds first woman voter when she cast her ballot one block from this site on the morning of September 6, 1870. This memorial commemorates and celebrates this historic event.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Civil Rights. A significant historical date for this entry is September 6, 1862.
Location. 41° 18.623′ N, 105° 35.64′ W. Marker is in Laramie, Wyoming, in Albany County. It is on South 2nd Street near East Garfield Street, on the right when traveling north. This marker is in Johnson Lummis Hunkins Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 South Second Street, Laramie WY 82070, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally,
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Commemorating Women of Laramie (within shouting distance of this marker); Bet You Didn't Know... (within shouting distance of this marker); Johnson Lummis Hunkins Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); George Adams Wyman (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); 407 S. 2nd Street (about 500 feet away); Laramie Timeline (about 600 feet away); First Woman Jury (about 600 feet away); St. Matthew's Cathedral (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laramie.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 23, 2014
2. The Franchise Marker
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 23, 2014
3. The Franchise Marker
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 23, 2014
4. The Franchise Marker
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 1, 2025
5. Added marker to the base of "The Franchise" Statue
Actually, Louisa Gardner Swain was not the first woman to ever vote but, significantly, she was the first woman in the world to vote with the same political rights as men. She, and all Wyoming female citizens, as of the age of 21, had the right to vote and hold public office because of Wyoming Territory's 1869 Suffrage Act. Some other states and places had given women conditional voting rights in certain school elections or as women of influential wealth or landownership but they were still not on the same standing with men. Such rights were quite extraordinary at the time, and consequently made Wyoming the only state entering the Union in 1890 with full civil, civic, and religious rights equal to men. Hence, Wyoming is known as the Equality State!
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 1, 2025
6. _The Franchise" Statue and Marker in front of the Wyoming Women's History House
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 716 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 5, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 1, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 5, 6. submitted on August 5, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
