In honor of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum will mount a new exhibition, “Her Vote. Her Story.,” which celebrates the significant milestone from a decidedly local vantage point.

Many people organized, protested, penned pamphlets, created politically-charged cookbooks, endured prison, and braved hunger strikes to support the cause, including local educator Elizabeth “Lizzie” Ordway, a leader in Washington’s suffrage movement.

“Her Vote. Her Story.,” on display from Friday, March 5 through Sept. 15, shines a light on the national, state, and local impact including what the ratification means for women today.

According to museum officials, “Although a significant step towards equality, the 19th Amendment, when ratified, mostly benefited educated white women. Native Americans and many Asian Americans were denied citizenship, and therefore, women in those communities were not eligible to vote. Longstanding discriminatory practices, such as poll taxes and literary tests prevented women of color and uneducated women from exercising their legal right to vote. And so, in the century since the ratification of the amendment, many more initiatives, laws, and amendments have been passed to assure equal access to voting for all women and men.

“In fact, the fight continues. Voting rights are largely decided by each state. While some states are expanding voting access, others are cutting back.”

The museum is located at 215 Ericksen Ave. NE. Visit www.bainbridgehistory.org to learn more.