Thirty-two years before the ratification of the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920, Lucy Sullivan was elected the first female mayor of Baldwin City, Kansas and only the third female mayor in the history of the United States. Lucy was elected with an all woman city council only two years after Kansas first allowed women to vote in municipal elections and stand for city offices.
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One of the councilwoman’s campaign promises was to build a bridge over Tauy Creek in Baldwin, which separates the city’s railroad depot from its downtown. Crossing the creek muddied the long dresses and coats women of the day wore.
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Douglas County Historical Society
Lucy Sullivan
Baldwin City Library
Locally known as the "Women's Bridge," the structure continues to operate as a working bridge more than a century after it's completion. It continues to stand as a monument for Women's Suffrage in the area.
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This bench was dedicated at Sullivan Square in Downtown Baldwin City on August 8, 2020 to commemorate the life and accomplishments of Lucy Sullivan. This mural bench and four other historically-themed benches, were commissioned as a way to recognize Baldwin City’s sesquicentennial celebration.
For more information on the mural benches and Baldwin City's sesquicentennial, CLICK HERE.
Douglas County Historical Society
