Crossroads Smithsonian Host Site and Partner Communities
Humanities Kansas presented the exclusive Kansas tour of Crossroads: Change in Rural America, a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition from Museum on Main Street. Six communities hosted the exhibition for six weeks each, August 2020 - June 2021.
Crossroads: Change in Rural America sparked fresh thinking and new conversations about the future and sustainability of Kansas communities. Local exhibitions, public programs, online resources, and the Smithsonian exhibition offered food for thought as we thought about what's at stake in small towns. Ultimately every community at a crossroads asks a similar question– what do we need to survive and thrive? Innovation and creativity are two ideas. What are yours?
Take a deeper look at the topic of rural Kansas in the 21st century. Visit the Crossroads: Change in Rural America website! The website features an interactive Crossroads experience, including an online Crossroads: Change in Rural America Smithsonian exhibition, online local exhibitions, healthy behavior activities, and more.
Crossroads Smithsonian Host Sites
These organizations brought the Smithsonian exhibition to their hometown August 2020 - June 2021:
- Bowlus Fine Arts Center, in partnership with Allen County Historical Society, Iola
- 5.4.7 Arts Center, Greensburg
- Kauffman Museum, North Newton
- Independence Public Library, in partnership with the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center
- The Volland Store, Alma
- Norton County Arts Council, Norton
Crossroads Partner Sites
In addition to the six sites hosting the Smithsonian, fifteen community organizations created their own exhibitions and programming to explore what it means to live rural in the 21st century, the relationship between rural, suburban, and urban, and the progress and persistence needed by communities of all sizes to thrive.
- Ellinwood School-Community Library
- Hays Public Library
- Lebanon Public Library
- Thomas County Historical Society, Colby
- Kansas Oil Museum, El Dorado
- Morris County Historical Society, Council Grove
- Onaga Historical Society
- Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Site, Olathe
- Satanta Area Arts Council, Satanta
- High Plains Museum, Goodland
- Sheridan County Museum, Hoxie
- Trego County Museum, WaKeeney
- Decatur County Museum, Oberlin
- The Dole Institute of Politics, Lawrence