In 1904, Elizabeth Magie patented something called the Landlord’s Game, which was, in some great irony, an argument against the concentration of wealth. Her game spread around the country, including to the Quakers of Atlantic City, N.J., who added all their city’s street names (Atlantic Avenue, Kentucky Avenue, Park Place). Later it was renamed and sold as Monopoly!
 
Elizabeth Magie was a pretty astonishing woman. She was an outspoken feminist, she had acted, she had done some performing, she had written some poetry and she was a game designer. And at the time that she patented her game, it was before women had the right to vote. Learn more about Elizabeth!