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

Written by: Jennifer Macias, History Programs Coordinator at Colorado Humanities

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. 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 opens in the Otero College Student Center, room 112, at 2001 San Juan Ave., La Junta, CO 81050, on January 26, 2024, and will be on view there through February 29, 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 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 La Junta, Colorado’s past, present and future and we are excited to explore what the future may hold for our community,” said Julie Worley from the Southeast Colorado Creative Partnership (SECCP). “We want to hold conversations about what makes our community unique and have developed public programs and facilitated conversations to complement the Smithsonian exhibition.” Please join us for the Grand Opening of the exhibit on January 26, 2024 which includes a screening of the film “5 States of Colorado” at 5 p.m.

Other free events to welcome the start of the exhibit include additional screenings of the film “5 States of Colorado” on January 27, February 3, February 10, February 17 and February 24; a “History of La Junta” Presentation by Bob Fowler on February 1; “My Vision/The Manzanola Dry Settlement” Presentation by Darlene Derbigny on February 15; and the “Holly/Swink Railroad Company Helped Grow the Arkansas Valley” Presentation by Chuck Hanagan on February 22.

Support for MoMS has been provided by the U.S. Congress, Colorado Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.