The Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street, in cooperation with Texas Historical Commission, presents “Crossroads: Change in Rural America.” The exhibition examining the evolving landscape of rural American life opens at the Bosque Museum from October 12 - December 1. 

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The Bosque Museum and the surrounding community has been expressly chosen by the Texas Historical Commission to host “Crossroads” as part of the Museum on Main Street program—a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. 

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“Crossroads” explores how rural American communities changed in the 20th century. From sea to shining sea, the vast majority 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.

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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.

We want to convene conversations about what makes our community unique and have developed local exhibitions and public programs to complement the Smithsonian exhibition. 

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“Crossroads” will serve as a community meeting place for conversations about how rural America has changed. The exhibit and programming will raise people’s understanding of their own history, the joys and challenges of living rural, how change has impacted their community, and prompt discussion of goals for the future.

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The exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. To learn more about “Crossroads” and other Museum on Main Street exhibitions, visit www.museumonmainstreet.org. Support for MoMS has been provided by the U.S. Congress. 

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SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and national tour schedules, visit www.sites.si.edu.