MOA is Selected to Host Smithsonian Exhibition!

Selected by the North Carolina Humanities Council to Host Traveling Smithsonian Exhibit Highlighting Rural America!

By Barbara Putnam, Operations Manager

The exhibit, titled Crossroads: Change in Rural America, examines the evolving landscape of rural America. It will be on display January 24–March 8, 2023.

The exhibit offers small towns and rural communities a chance to look at their own paths to highlight the changes that affected their fortunes over the past century. It explores how rural America embraces the notion that its citizens and their cultural uniqueness are important assets. Everyone benefits from rural America’s successes, and we can learn great things from listening to those stories.

“Exhibiting Crossroads: Change in Rural America allows us to reflect on regional history in a place that is half land and half water with a long history of culture,” said Don Pendergraft, Director of Regional Museums. “We are excited to use the exhibit to explore what the future holds for our community. With support from North Carolina Humanities, we are developing our own accompanying regional exhibit to showcase local people and stories. We will also host various programs and events to spark conversations about what makes our community unique and essential.”

The intent is to fuel dialogues about the fastchanging environments of ecosystems, farming, business, recreation, tourism, communities, towns, and education for rural people facing changes of traditional lifestyles. The museum will host forums, speakers, and workshops to discuss these changes as they have formed the past to address the future of the region.

Museum of the Albemarle wishes to thank NC Humanities Council, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle for their support. We look forward to having citizens and visitors from the many crossroads, communities, and towns throughout the Albemarle region and North Carolina see Crossroads: Change in Rural America at our museum.