Join us to meet these Legendary Ladies IN PERSON:
Augusta Tabor: 1833-1895 Businesswoman
A cook, laundress, and postmistress as the first white-woman in the Idaho Springs mining camp, Augusta quickly learned financial management at a time when it was uncommon for women to be business minded. As first wife of Horace Tabor-Silver King, her astute business holdings helped her develop into a
well-known Denver philanthropist. Inductee in Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, National Mining Hall of Fame. Victorian Costume
Merle Eagan Anderson:1888-1984 “Hello Girls” Operator WWI
She was born in Smith Corner, KS and grew up in the southern CO coal mines. At 18, she left home to train as a telephone switchboard operator in Denver, CO. In 1917, she was selected as Chief Supervisor of the 5th telephone unit serving in Tours and Paris, France during WWI with the US Army Signal Corps.
The press dubbed these ladies, "Hello Girls". Upon returning to civilian life in 1920, the operators were
denied Veteran status and Victory Medals by the War Department and US Army. After an over 60 year
fight led by Merle, the over 50 surviving operators received their DD214's and Victory Medals in 1979.
Mary Elitch Long: 1856-1936 Businesswoman
Original owner of Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado, Mary Elitch was the first female manager of a zoo at a time when women held no political or financial power. Mary will guide you through a verbal tour of the gardens. Elegant. Inductee in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. Edwardian Costume