Oh, Sei Can You See?

Artist: Dorothy Weiner
Title: Oh, Sei Can You See?
Medium: Acrylic

Open space, parks, and recreational spaces became desirable places for working-class people to spend their free time in the early 1900s. However, participation in rigorous physical activities amongst women was highly discouraged during this time. This didn’t stop trailblazing women like the ones in Louisville from breaking social norms and advocating for women’s inclusion in recreational activities.

Women in Louisville participated in activities such as basketball and hiking prior to 1910, which was very early compared to American women nationally at the time. Colorado would become one of a few states to create climbing clubs such as the Colorado Mountain club, formed in 1912.  Groups such as CU Boulder’s Hiking Club also included women as early as 1920. Women on the trails sparked a fashion revolution, breaking protocols from wearing skirts on the trails to wearing lighter, more practical clothing such as pants.

Camping and activities like hunting and fishing would become exceptionally popular around Louisville. While most people traveled into the mountains, many others spent their time outdoors closer to home at nearby lakes and ponds and the many undeveloped fields surrounding Louisville. By the 1980s, Louisville designated its first open space area around Harper Lake and in 1990, opened the Recreation Center so Louisvillians could play and exercise all year round.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?