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Jennifer Macias, History Programs Coordinator with Colorado Humanities cuts the ribbon on the “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” a Smithsonian Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibit at the Ignacio Community Library, Monday, April 29. Macias is joined by members of the Ignacio Creative District (ICD) and Ignacio Community Library. Pictured left to right: Stephani Burditt, ICD Treasurer; Tuggy Dunton, ICD President; Eva Lewis, ICD Director; Dorothy Williams and Sharon Craig, both ICD board members.
Neida Chackee and Danny Jaques share a few laughs over coffee during the opening reception of the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibit at the Ignacio Community Library, Monday, April 29. Chackee provided the invocation for the event.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
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Smithsonian exhibit highlights changing landscape of rural America

Friday - May 3, 2024 by Colorado Humanities

Colorado Humanities will tour “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” a Smithsonian Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibit to 10 Colorado communities from August 2023 to December 2024. The exhibit takes a broad look at the characteristics of rural America and explores how rural American communities changed in the 20th century. It explores how an attraction to and interaction with the land formed the basis of rural America, and how rural communities and small towns evolve. It also highlights how change has transformed rural America and how rural Americans are evolving for the future. The exhibition opened in August 2023 in Walsenburg and will continue moving to other communities, including Ignacio on April 29, 2024 at the Ignacio Community Library, 470 Goddard Ave, Ignacio. 

About ‘Crossroads: Change in Rural America’ 

Currently, most of the United States landscape remains rural with only 3.5% of the landmass considered urban. Since 1900, the percentage of Americans living in rural areas dropped from 60% to 17%, and the exhibit looks at that remarkable societal change and how rural Americans responded. 

Americans have relied on rural crossroads for generations. These places where people gather to exchange goods, services, and culture, and to engage in political and community discussions are an important part of our cultural fabric. Despite the massive economic and demographic impacts brought on by these changes, America’s small towns continue to creatively focus on new opportunities for growth and development. 

“’Crossroads’ allows us to reflect on Ignacio Colorado’s history, present and future, and we are excited to explore what the future may hold for our community,” said Eva Lewis, Director of the Ignacio Creative District. “We want to convene conversations about what makes our community unique and have developed a local exhibit, public programs, and facilitated conversations to complement the Smithsonian exhibition.” All events will be held at Ignacio Community Library, 470 Goddard Ave. 

  • May 9th, Ties to Land and Place at 5 p.m. 
  • May 17th, Community Celebrations and Traditions at 1 p.m. 
  • May 21st, Ignacio’s Past, Present, and Future at 5 p.m. 
  • May 31st, Visions, Views, and Voices at 5 p.m. 

Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U.S. Congress, Colorado Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information contact Jennifer Macias, History Programs Coordinator, at jennifer@coloradohumanities.org or 303 894 7951 x17. 

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