Smithsonian traveling exhibit on innovation in rural America coming to Mississippi
JANS – Every invention and innovation is someone’s attempt to turn a problem into a solution. The results: Old neighborhoods revitalized, historic business districts rejuvenated, new festivals and cultural attractions generated, and much more. “Spark! Places of Innovation,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian, highlights how innovation has shaped small towns across the country. The exhibition examining the ingenuity and tenacity of rural America is coming to a Mississippi community near you.
Six sites across the state have been selected by the Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC) to host “Spark!” as part of the Museum on Main Street program – a national/state/local partnership that brings exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. The exhibition will tour across the state from May 16, 2026, through February 27, 2027.
May 16, 2026 – June 27, 2026; Utica Institute Museum at Hinds Community College, Utica Campus
July 4, 2026 – August 15, 2026; Soule Steam Museum in Meridian
August 22, 2026 – October 3, 2026; Greenville Higher Education Center at Mississippi Delta Community College, Greenville Campus
October 10, 2026 – November 21, 2026; Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library in Oxford
November 28, 2026 – January 9, 2027; The Historic Eureka School with the 6th Street Museum District in Hattiesburg
January 16, 2027 – February 27, 2027; Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport
“Spark! Places of Innovation” highlights innovation in rural America from the perspective of the people who lived it. The exhibition features stories and images from over 30 communities across the nation gathered through a crowdsourcing initiative. These places of innovation examined their existing assets, characteristics, people, resources, and history to tackle the challenges of today with creative solutions and chart new directions for their future. Through photographs, hands-on interactives, objects, and videos, “Spark!” reveals the leaders, challenges, successes, and future of innovation in each featured town.
To learn more about “Spark! Places of Innovation” and other Museum on Main Street exhibitions, visit www.museumonmainstreet.org.
