Wyoming State Motto: Equal Rights
Fact-checked • Updated December 6, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Equal Rights"
Equal Rights
About This Motto
The Wyoming state motto is Equal Rights. These two simple words appear on the state's Great Seal and flag. Wyoming adopted this motto as part of its official seal in 1893. The phrase honors Wyoming's historic role as the first territory to grant women the right to vote in 1869. This groundbreaking decision earned Wyoming its nickname, The Equality State.
What the Motto Means
Equal Rights is direct. It means all people deserve the same legal protections and opportunities. Equal indicates fairness and balance. Rights refers to freedoms and privileges guaranteed by law.
The Wyoming state motto honors women's suffrage. In 1869, the territory became the first place in the United States to let women vote. The motto reminds residents of this pioneering legacy. It stands for justice and equality under the law.
Historical Background
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1869 - Women's Suffrage Becomes Law
The story begins on December 10, 1869. Governor John Allen Campbell signed a bill granting women in Wyoming Territory the right to vote. Legislator William H. Bright introduced the measure. His wife Julia was a strong supporter of women's rights. The Democratic legislature passed it, and Republican Governor Campbell approved it. This made Wyoming the first territory in the nation to grant women full voting rights.
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1890 - Statehood and Constitutional Protection
Wyoming became the 44th state on July 10, 1890. Voters had approved a constitution in November 1889 that guaranteed women's suffrage. When Congress tried to force Wyoming to remove women's voting rights as a condition of statehood, the territorial legislature refused. They famously declared they would remain out of the Union for 100 years rather than give up women's suffrage. Congress backed down.
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1893 - Great Seal Adoption
The Second Legislature adopted Wyoming's Great Seal in 1893. The seal features a female figure holding a staff with a banner. The banner reads Equal Rights. This made the phrase an official part of state imagery. The woman on the seal is modeled after the Victory of the Louvre statue. Broken chains hang from her wrists.
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1921 - Seal Revision
The Sixteenth Legislature revised the Great Seal in 1921. They increased its diameter from 1.25 inches to 1.5 inches. The basic design and motto remained unchanged. This revision refined the proportions but kept Equal Rights as the central message.
Where You See It Today
The Equal Rights motto appears prominently on Wyoming's Great Seal. The seal shows a woman holding a staff with a banner bearing these words. This seal is used on official state documents, government letterhead, and legal papers. You can see it in the State Capitol building in Cheyenne.
The state flag also displays the motto. Verna Keays designed the flag in 1916, and the legislature adopted it in 1917. A white bison silhouette appears on a blue field with red and white borders. The Great Seal, including the Equal Rights banner, sits on the bison's side. This placement follows the Western tradition of branding cattle. The flag flies at government buildings, schools, and public spaces throughout Wyoming.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 8
Wyoming is called The Equality State because of its commitment to equal rights for women.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records.
Official information about Wyoming's Great Seal and state symbols. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Comprehensive overview of Wyoming's official state symbols. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Historical documentation of Wyoming's pioneering women's suffrage law. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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