Historic Marker Unveiled at former Fire Station

Cameron, Missouri, proudly marks a significant milestone in American history as the first city in the United States to allow 18- and 19-year-olds to vote following the ratification of the 26th Amendment. This landmark amendment, ratified on July 1, 1971, lowered the voting age in all U.S. elections from 21 to 18, guaranteeing that citizens aged 18 and older cannot be denied the right to vote based on age.

Members of the Cameron Historical Society, along with generous local donors Jack and Alene Briggs, recently gathered to commemorate a significant moment in Cameron’s history with the installation of a 26th Amendment marker at the former fire station on Main St., which served as a polling place in 1971. The marker, similar in design to seven commemorative signs sponsored by Cameron alumnus Paul Fiddick recognizing locations visited by notable figures, honors the historic expansion of voting rights to 18-year-olds. Sloan Monument played a key role in producing the marker, while the City of Cameron provided its installation, bringing the community together to preserve and celebrate an important chapter in local history.