Unveiling History: A Toast to the Stories Shared at Sip 'n Savor Events in 2023
As the crisp winds of winter sweep through Historic Downtown Laramie, we want to take a moment to reflect on the year and recognize all the incredible folks who contributed to our celebration of Wyoming’s unique history with suffrage. This year, the Wyoming Women’s History House welcomed our community and visitors alike to learn about the historic women and historic times in the Equality State.
From the spirited reenactment of Louisa Swain’s historic vote in September, to the captivating discussions led by our distinguished speakers of our Sip n’ Savor events, each gathering unveiled a tapestry of stories that form the rich history of Wyoming’s pioneering women. We want to give a heartfelt thank you to the attendees whose engagement shined a bright light on how vibrant our community is.
Notable highlights from the Sip n’ Savor events include Author, Marcia Hensley’s insightful look into tales of women homesteaders at the signing for her book “Staking Her Claim,” and the richly-imagined stories of pioneer women from Poet Barbara M. Smith, from her book, "Putting a Name on It."
We were honored to host a robust discussion between Wyoming’s State Representative Mike Massie, and Historian Kim Viner, on the “Hows and Whys Wyoming was a leader in the suffrage movement.” Our distinguished speaker, Kim Viner, also shared a captivating exploration of the women and men involved in the historic 1870 jury trial where women first sat.
Longtime Laramie resident, Germaine St. John, illuminated memories of the historic "red light district" in Laramie and the economic impact it made during the 1940-50s. Well-spoken Germaine had done her research on all the shop owners of our history-laden downtown have done to revitalize and re-energize the historic bordello buildings into thriving, exciting businesses.
We were taken on a virtual tour of the geology of the landscape of Ethel Waxham Love’s (Lady’s Choice: A Wyoming Courtship) journey from Rawlins to her job as a rural schoolteacher in the isolated community of Hailey, by Dr. Carol Frost, a noted professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming. The year’s discussions concluded on a high note, with a captivating presentation by Dr. Danny Walker, an archeologist and author who generously shared the inside story of the dig under Esther Hobart Morris’ South Pass City cabin, complete with powerpoints.
As we bid farewell to 2023, help us raise a toast to our sponsors, the Wyoming Council for Women and The Unexpected Company Senior Theatre, who made these gatherings a resounding success. We must again express our deepest gratitude to all those who unveiled history with us. Join us in the coming year as we continue to explore the untold stories of Wyoming's most remarkable women.