Staff photo by Gage Cureton People examine of portion of The Grand’s new exhibit titled “A Century of Civic Engagement: League of Women Voters Minnesota” during an opening reception Friday. The exhibit features Minnesota’s suffrage story and highlights the women who dedicated themselves to securing women’s right to vote.

NEW ULM — The Grand Center for Arts and Culture held an opening reception for its new exhibit “A Century of Civic Engagement: League of Women Voters Minnesota” in the Four Pillars Gallery Friday.

The exhibit, hosted by League of Women Voters Minnesota, features Minnesota’s suffrage story and highlights the women who dedicated themselves to securing women’s right to vote. The exhibit also highlights the women that continue to lead through the League of Women Voters Minnesota.

Before Congress ratified the nineteenth amendment in 1919, the suffrage movement already had deep roots in Minnesota with some groups dating back to the 1870s. In 1919, the Minnesota Legislature recogized women’s right to participate in presidiential elections — almost one year before the nineteenth amendment would take effect nationally.

This year nearly marks the 100-year anniversary of women securing their right to vote.

“I think it’s just a real surprise how little time has gone by since women and certain minorities got the right to vote,” Grand Center for Arts and Culture Board Chair Linda Beck she said. “It’s just an educational experience.”

The exhibit had a closed unveiling in the League of Women Voters Minnesota’s annual meeting in April. The exhibit at the Grand is also one of three traveling sets with New Ulm being the first community to hold the exhibit.

As a part of the Grand’s mission to enrich community life through arts and cultural education, Beck said the Grand plans to host more exhibits similar to “A Century of Civic Engagement: League of Women Voters Minnesota.”

“We want to do one or two of these a year instead of just the ‘arts’ portion of The Grand’s mission,” she said

The exhibit is open for viewing until August 2. Gallery hours for “A Century of Civic Engagement: League of Women Voters Minnesota” are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Gage Cureton can be emailed at gcureton@nujournal.com.