New assessment tool helps preserve places significant to women’s rights in Nevada

Nevada is home to many buildings and landmarks that played an important role in the women’s rights movement. From the historic V&T railroad passenger car that carried Progressive-Era suffragists around the state, to the Lemaire Store in Battle Mountain that served as a key suffragist meeting place, these historic resources represent a significant moment in history for women seeking equal opportunities in the Silver State.

Commissioned in 2020 and funded by the National Park Service, the “Historic Context for Suffrage and Women’s Rights in Nevada” is now available online. This cultural resource guide helps identify significant locations throughout Nevada that played an integral role in women’s history.

“The legacy of those who championed the women’s rights movement in Nevada is an essential part of the history of our unique state,” said Rebecca Palmer, Administrator of the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office. “Nevada is filled with historic and cultural links to the past. By recognizing the iconic landmarks that helped shape the direction of women’s suffrage and other significant milestones, we can ensure these remarkable stories will be preserved and shared with future generations.”

“This Context provides a comprehensive overview of Nevada women’s political activism during the state’s formative years,” says Nevada historian Dana Bennett, who helped develop the Historic Context. “By identifying leaders, meeting locations, and campaign stops – especially during women’s long fight to win the right to vote – this Context demonstrates that Nevada history is not complete without considering women’s activities across the state.”

Developed by the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, this dynamic resource is designed to help:

• Identify locations and resources pertaining to the suffrage and women’s rights movements in Nevada;

• Assess these locations and resources to determine their significance using an established evaluation framework; and

• Support efforts from groups seeking to add related buildings or sites to the National Register of Historic Places.

A designation with the National Register can increase visibility, provide access to funding, and enhance educational and interpretive opportunities for locations identified as historically significant.

For more information and to view the Historic Context, visit https://shpo.nv.gov/women's-history.

This project has been partially funded by the Underrepresented Community Grant Program of the Historic Preservation Fund, National Park Service, and Department of the Interior. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not constitute endorsement or necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior or U.S. Government.