"West of Crescent" by (William) Royden Card. Courtesy of A Gallery/Allen+Alan Fine Art and the J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah. All Rights Reserved.

Becoming Utah

Statehood marked a turning point for Utah, but it was not the only point of change in our history. Throughout the past 125 years, Utahns of all backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and genders have experienced their own challenges, setbacks, and successes.
From the women who pushed for the right to vote to the Native Americans who sought to maintain their sovereignty, Utahns have been actively redefining their opportunities for decades. Thanks to these individuals, our shared identity as a state has evolved in the years since 1896, and the actions of current and future Utahns will ensure it continues to grow.

In these videos, we explore the development of Utah's identity.

Videos

Women and the Quest for Political Representation

Utah has a legacy of strong and politically active women. Follow the journey of local suffrage activists who brought together women from urban and rural Utah as they worked to gain—and then regain—the right to vote.

Statehood and the Road to the Ballot Box

After Utah became a United States territory, many of its people faced an uphill battle to gain legal and political rights. This video shows how women, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Native Americans challenged discriminatory ideas and laws. Learn more about their long efforts to gain citizenship, voting rights, and political representation.

African Americans and the Pursuit of Equality

African Americans have explored, lived, worked, and worshiped in Utah since the early 1800s. This video highlights the experience of Utah's African American communities and the discrimination they faced as they worked toward equality. Their story is an important part of our shared history

Native Americans and the Long Road to Political Representation
This video explores how Utah’s Native American peoples challenged discriminatory ideas and laws, and worked to gain equal rights and political representation. Learn about how members of Utah’s eight federally recognized tribes fought to maintain their sovereignty and be recognized as citizens of Utah and the nation.