Colorado Humanities will tour “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” a Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibit to 10 Colorado communities August 2023 to December 2024. The exhibit takes a broad look at the characteristics of rural America, how an attraction to and interaction with the land formed the basis of rural America, and how these 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 in Alamosa opens at the San Luis Valley Museum, 401 Hunt Ave #2658, Alamosa, CO 81101, on October 16, 2023 and will be on view through November 25, 2023 before moving to the other communities.
About “Crossroads: Change in Rural America”
“Crossroads” explores how rural American communities changed in the 20th century. 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%. The exhibition 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, culture, and 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 Alamosa, Colorado’s history, present and future and we are excited to explore what the future may hold for our community,” said Jeff Myers, San Luis Valley Museum Director. “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.” Please join us for the Grand Opening of the exhibit on October 20, 2023 at 7 p.m., which will include an introduction to the exhibit from Keynote Speaker Dr. Ed Crowther. Other free events to welcome the start of the exhibit include a focus group to facilitate community conversations and a viewing of the film The Five States of Colorado on September 22 at 6 p.m.; another community conversation then film “Glenn Miller Orchestra” on September 29 at 6 p.m.; and a final community conversation then live performance from the “SLV Community Band” on October 6 at 6 p.m. All events will be held at the San Luis Valley Museum.