A Smithsonian Institution exhibit on life in rural America is traveling to seven Texas cities, and Houstonians' closest shot at seeing it is in Brenham, where the exhibit is now through Jan. 19.
It's part of the institution's Museum on Main Street program, and it's been planned in partnership with the Texas Historical Commission.
The exhibit, "Crossroads: Change in Rural America," which will include the national Smithsonian exhibit and the local exhibit called "Century of Simon," will be housed at The Barnhill Center at the Historic Simon Theater, 111 W. Main Street in Brenham. The exhibit opened on Dec. 7.
This exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, state organizations across the nation and local host institutions. The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education and research complex with 21 museums and the National Zoo based in Washington, D.C.
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Support for the Museum on Main Street program has been provided by the U.S. Congress.
Brenham is the third of seven stops for the traveling exhibit. It started in San Augustine, Texas in August, then moved on to Clifton, Texas Oct. 12 through Dec. 1.
After its run in Brenham, a small town located approximately equal distance between Austin and Houston along US. 290, the exhibit will travel to Rockport, Buffalo Gap, San Elizario and wrap up in Bandera June 21 through Aug. 2.
Designed for small-town museums, "Crossroads" will foster conversations about how rural America has changed.
"'Crossroads' explores how rural American communities changed in the 20th century," according to information from the Texas Historical Commission. "Much 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 has dropped from 60% to 17%."
The exhibition looks at that remarkable societal change and how rural Americans responded.
"When many hear the phrase 'rural America,' we have more assumptions than facts. There is so much more to the story, " said Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution.
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The Smithsonian exhibit contains five free-standing exhibition units with photographs, text panels and objects and a free-standing touchscreen interactive computer kiosk featuring video and audio content.
The "Century of Simon" exhibit celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Simon Theater, which is now The Barnhill Center event venue in downtown Brenham.
The exhibits, which are free to the public, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. The exhibits are closed on holidays.