Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Highlighting Changing Landscape of Rural America Coming to Trinidad, Colorado

Contact
Jennifer Macias
jennifer@coloradohumanities.org
303.894.7951 x17
November 27, 2023
Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Highlighting Changing Landscape of Rural America Coming to
Trinidad, Colorado
Colorado Humanities will tour “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” a Smithsonian’s 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. 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 hosted by Corazon de Trinidad Creative District, opens at the
Commons @ Space to Create 218 W Main St, Trinidad, CO 81082, on December 9, 2023, and will be on
view there through January 13, 2024, 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, and culture and to engage in political and community discussions are an
an important part of our cultural fabric. Despite the massive economic and demographic impacts that brought
on by these changes, America’s small towns continue to focus on new opportunities for growth and
development creatively.
“We’ve engaged more than 150 people from the community in the creation of ‘Crossroads’ which
allows us to reflect on Trinidad, Colorado’s history, present, and future in a truly unique way, and we
are excited to explore what the future may hold for our community,” said Marggie Ferrendelli,
Executive Director of Creative Main Street. “We want to convene conversations about what makes our
community unique and have developed local exhibits, and public programs, and facilitated conversations to
complement the Smithsonian exhibition.” Please join us for the Grand Opening of the exhibit hosted
by the Corazon de Trinidad Creative District on December 9 starting at 10 a.m., at the Commons @ the
Space to Create with activities throughout the day including a model railroad exhibit, portrait
exhibition, an educational multimedia art exhibition, public workshops on playback theater, and a live
2 story share performance at 5 p.m. Join us for two dynamic panel discussions, starting with “Matriarch”
on January 10 at 5 p.m., followed by “Patriarch” on January 17 at 5 p.m. These engaging discussions
are the perfect complement to the exhibit, shining a spotlight on the incredible contributions of
influential men and women from the region. Don’t miss out on the enthusiasm at Main Street Live for
both events!
Support for MoMS has been provided by the U.S. Congress, Colorado Humanities, and the National
Endowment for the Humanities.
Contact Marggie Ferrendelli
Phone #+17203353616
E-Mail marggie.ferrendelli@trinidad.co.gov
https://www.trinidadcreativedistrict.org/smithsonianexhibition
Hours/Admission Open Mon – Friday 8 -5 – Free admission
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For more information, contact Jennifer Macias, History Programs Coordinator at
jennifer@coloradohumanities.org or 303 894 7951 x17.