Breaking the Ice: Trailblazing Women of Westerville

Breaking the Ice: Trailblazing Women of Westerville

Virtual Exhibit (Ongoing)

For over 200 years, women with passion, persistence, and courage have shaped the course of Westerville's history. These women had bold visions. They saw potential, overcame challenges, and enacted change. One Westerville reporter described the first woman who rode a bicycle through town as having "broken the ice." Many other local women, from librarian to cryptologist, Marine to musician, broke the ice in their own creative ways.

This is a virtual exhibit that can be viewed online 24/7. View exhibit.

Featured women include:

Azubah Phelps
Ila Grindell
Grace & Mary Innis
Mary E. Lee
Violet Williams
Jane Minnis
Lydia Winter Guitner
May Irwin
LaVelle Rosselot
Dacia Custer Shoemaker
Agnes Meyer Driscoll
Florence Fawley
Cora J. Bailey
Minerva France
Sarah Jennie Miller
Mary Kate Winter Hanby
Leona D. Kelser
Mary Teeter
Nancy Giles
Brenda Henson Young
Mary Lou Prouty
...and more

Sometimes Westerville served as the focal point of their pioneering efforts, and other times it served as a springboard, launching their innovation into the wider world. Wherever they landed, these Westerville women transformed their communities with their impressive accomplishments.

Source: This exhibit was curated and designed by the Westerville History Museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage and unveiled in 2020. 

Museum Hours

Monday-Saturday: 9am-6pm
Closed on Saturday: 1-2pm
Closed on Sunday

Walk-ins welcome.

Westerville History MuseumWesterville History Museum

As the site of the Anti-Saloon League’s former headquarters, the Westerville History Museum works to preserve the history of the temperance movement, the passage of the 18th Amendment, and the Prohibition era.
As the site of the Anti-Saloon League’s former headquarters, the Westerville History Museum works to preserve the history of the temperance movement, the passage of the 18th Amendment, and the Prohibition era.

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Jun 12, 2026
Created by Central Ohio artist Dexter Komakaru as a part of the America250 Mural Project

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Jackie B.

Jackie has made a career of working with communities to tell their stories and preserve their history.

Jim S.

Jim loves digging into the archives of historic maps and news in the Westerville History Museum.

Katy K.

Katy loves bringing history to life, getting hands-on with artifacts, and helping people discover meaning and relevance in the past.

Kaitlin S.

Kaitlin is passionate about helping the Westerville Public Library remain strong for future generations.
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