Hey, I agree with the young girl. Wouldn’t it be nice if the portraits, statues and monuments looked more like actual history, instead of mirroring the historical prejudices that excluded non-male, non-white, non-Christian, non-straight people from our textbooks? These fascinating people existed, even if we weren’t taught about them.
Thanks for this story, Gabe! And big thanks to the organizers of Better Days 2020 for their efforts to get Martha to Washington. My home state’s female political history is a fascinating (and sometimes maddening) one, but I’m grateful for the women that lead the way and the ones who are still trying to change us for the better today.
I’m the founder of Better Days 2020 which spearheaded the creation and placement of this statue. It took years and hundreds of allies to get Martha to the Capitol. But she is only one of many early Utah women who were “firsts” in their fields. In fact, in 1870, we had the first woman to cast a legal ballot: Seraph Young. My team just visited her grave in Arlington when we were in DC for the statue unveiling. Truly the most rewarding work of my lifetime. Thank you for featuring Martha. 🙏🏻
Excellent article; truthful about events and historical facts; nonjudgmental. It is so refreshing to read coverage about Utah’s interesting past and notorious people without interjections of political rhetoric. I was so tickled to see our beloved Mitt Romney in the picture. Martha and Utah! We love thee.
As we celebrate Cannon, let’s keep reevaluating the figures we choose to honor. After all, true progress rarely comes from following the rules—it springs from those who break them, just like “Mattie” did. Which other overlooked pioneers deserve a place among these halls?
Hey, I agree with the young girl. Wouldn’t it be nice if the portraits, statues and monuments looked more like actual history, instead of mirroring the historical prejudices that excluded non-male, non-white, non-Christian, non-straight people from our textbooks? These fascinating people existed, even if we weren’t taught about them.
Thanks for this story, Gabe! And big thanks to the organizers of Better Days 2020 for their efforts to get Martha to Washington. My home state’s female political history is a fascinating (and sometimes maddening) one, but I’m grateful for the women that lead the way and the ones who are still trying to change us for the better today.
I’m the founder of Better Days 2020 which spearheaded the creation and placement of this statue. It took years and hundreds of allies to get Martha to the Capitol. But she is only one of many early Utah women who were “firsts” in their fields. In fact, in 1870, we had the first woman to cast a legal ballot: Seraph Young. My team just visited her grave in Arlington when we were in DC for the statue unveiling. Truly the most rewarding work of my lifetime. Thank you for featuring Martha. 🙏🏻
Thank you for sharing this story of a remarkable woman!
Thanks do much for this inspiring story! I live in the DC suburbs and will plan a visit soon to Statuary Hall to see Martha!
Yes, she’s remarkable. More remarkable, to me, is Utah gave her this honor. Love the stories of persevering women.
Excellent article; truthful about events and historical facts; nonjudgmental. It is so refreshing to read coverage about Utah’s interesting past and notorious people without interjections of political rhetoric. I was so tickled to see our beloved Mitt Romney in the picture. Martha and Utah! We love thee.
Proud Utahn here! Thanks for the feature Sharon 💖
Loved reading her story...so captivating!
Loved this so much. People contain multitudes!!
As we celebrate Cannon, let’s keep reevaluating the figures we choose to honor. After all, true progress rarely comes from following the rules—it springs from those who break them, just like “Mattie” did. Which other overlooked pioneers deserve a place among these halls?
Great story. I love hearing about the untold stories in history.
I loved this!
Fascinating!!!