Women’s History Month events in Colorado

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration taking place every March 8, More than 100 years old, IWD “honors the achievements of women across all aspects of life – social, economic, cultural, and political – while also advocating for gender equality.”

Since the 1980s, the entire month of March has been designated Women’s History Month in the U.S., honoring women’s contributions to American history.

It took several women’s movements a few years to get it going, but in February of 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week. Seven years later, in March of 1987, “Women’s History Month” was designated by Congress.

This year in Colorado, there are several events happening along the Front Range honoring women’s contribution throughout history. Below are a few highlights.

Denver

Self-Guided Art Tour

Denver Public Art is offering a self-guided tour of public art pieces by and about women. Among the many original works by sculptors, painters, muralists and designers is Elsie Ward Hering’s The Boy and a Frog (1898), which also happens to be the oldest piece in the collection.

Center For Colorado Women’s History

Enjoy a free admission day learning about many remarkable stories of Colorado’s women pioneers on Sat., March 8 at the Center for Colorado Women’s History in Denver.

African Leadership Group

Titled “Overcoming Barriers & Bridging the Divide: Advocating for Women’s Liberation,” this event focuses on “how women within the community actively commit to supporting, accepting, and elevating each other despite differences of cultures/backgrounds.” It takes place March 8 at 5:30pm at the Denver Botanic Gardens in Mitchell Hall.

Fort Collins

First Friday Art Walk

The first Friday of every month is a free art walk in downtown Fort Collins. This month (Fri., March 7), the Walnut Creek upstairs hosts a portrait art exhibit featuring 48 women who have influenced the community.

Virtual Tour: Women’s Suffrage in Fort Collins

A virtual walking tour of some sites around Old Town related to the 1893 and 1919 movements and the people that made it happen.

Boulder

International Women’s Day Celebration

Now in its third year, the New Local hosts a free International Women’s Day Celebration at their gallery on Pearl Street on Sat., March 8. The event includes artistic demonstrations and workshops that “pay homage to ancestral practices of crafting functional ceramics, willow weaving, wood working, grinding paint from rocks, botanical dyeing and much more.”

Longmont

Women of Longmont Virtual Tour

Hear the stories of influential women who helped make Longmont what it is today. This free virtual tour is available at Longmontcolorado.gov/virtualtours.

Aurora

Nepali Women’s History

This free event on March 8 gives you a chance to learn about key women in Nepal’s history. Guest speakers include Binisha Shrestha, who will discuss Nepali athletes, a chief justice, Nepal’s first female president, writers, and businesswomen; and award-winning athlete Mira Rai, who will share “how she went from a child soldier to one of the world’s best female ultrarunners.” The event takes place Sat., March 8 at 5pm at the Aurora History Museum.

Colorado Springs

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum

The museum offers a Women’s History Month Specialty Tour on select days this month. The tour “recognizes the inspiring achievements of women in the movement, and the ongoing efforts for those accomplishments to be celebrated and honored.”