Completed: 9. Visit Susan B. Anthony’s Grave
We booked our summer trip to the Finger Lakes in New York, which is an hour or so away from Rochester, the final resting place of both Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, two American icons.
I could write about both forever, but let’s focus on Susie B., the trailblazer I was here to see. She was an abolitionist, women’s rights leader, shit starter and bad ass. Those are my words, not historians’.
Though they had their differences and some where quite interesting, Anthony and Douglass remained friends for most of their lives. She was one of the reasons Douglass moved to Rochester. There’s even a statue honoring their friendship in Rochester.
So, I wanted to pay my respects to the woman to whom I owe so much.
I threw away my “I voted” sticker after the election, which I originally wanted to leave with her if I ever got the chance to visit her grave. Right before we parked, Kris suggested I leave my beloved “Girl Hold My Earrings” button instead on Susan B. Anthony’s grave, so I did. I got a little too deep into my emotions and had to swallow back the tears or else it would’ve gotten ugly.
I also got a chance to see where Susan B. Anthony was arrested for illegally voting.
I’m so lucky to have been able to visit her grave. It was an emotional one!
-Lyssa