She's known as the first and only woman to receive the Medal of Honor, but she did so much more than that. With strong ties to Central New York, Dr. Mary Walker was a female revolutionary.
Born in Oswego in 1832, Walker was destined to make a difference.
"Dr. Mary Walker really was a visionary," said Oswego Town Historian George Demass. "There are very few people that are visionaries. She was way ahead of her time.”
Growing up in a progressive family, she believed women were equal to men.
"Dr. Mary Walker never wore corsets," said Oswego County Historian Justin White. "Her and her sisters didn't wear long gowns because they lived on a farm. They were taught to be self-sufficient."
Her choices created waves in dress reform. She's often credited as the reason women wear pants.
"Dr. Walker was very vocal growing up. I remember people that did know her, they are gone now, some of the old neighbors thought she was strange and eccentric," said Demass.
Despite being looked at differently, she continued to go against the norm. She became one of the first female doctors, graduating at the top of her class at Syracuse Medical College.
"She was learning a lot of new ideas and concepts of health care treatment. She was able to start her own practice with her then husband. A lot of people don't know that she was married for a while," said White.
Her work as a surgeon during the Civil War earned her the Medal of Honor. It's a badge she wore proudly every day.
"The original fabric and material gradually wore off, so she petitioned Congress to have the ribbon remade," said White
Even until her last days, she was fighting for equality.
"Sadly, she fell on the Capitol steps, injured herself, and never recovered. She died a year and a half later," said White.
This past February marks the 101-year anniversary of her death.
"She was very right. She wrote that 'people will really not appreciate what I've done until after I'm gone,' and it's true," said Demass.
Filmmakers behind the movie Hacksaw Ridge are currently working on a movie on Walker's life. It's expected to premiere in Seneca Falls.