Crossroads: Change in Rural America

What does "rural America" mean? And how have our small towns changed?

The celebration of New Hampshire Humanities' 50th anniversary continues with a new initiative that brings Granite Staters together to explore our shared history– in particular, how our small towns have evolved and what makes these places unique. New Hampshire Humanities is partnering with Vermont Humanities and the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program to bring a traveling exhibit, Crossroads: Change in Rural America, to small towns in both states from August 2024-August 2025. 

Crossroads offers rural towns the opportunity to highlight and reflect on the changes that have affected their fortunes over the past century. Despite economic and demographic shifts, America’s small towns continue to find new creative opportunities for economic innovation and cultural life. Crossroads encourages discussion about how these changes impacted small towns and the ways that rural towns are important assets to the nation.

Each host site of Crossroads is collaborating with their local community to plan, shape, and implement the exhibit, defining what the project means to them. To build on local partnerships and encourage community members to get involved, all three sites in New Hampshire will incorporate a series of public events or projects into the Crossroads exhibit, each one unique to its location. 

Tour Dates

Aug. 23 - Oct. 26, 2024
St. Albans Museum, St. Albans City, VT  Details

Oct. 12 – Dec. 13, 2024
River Valley Community College, Claremont, NH  Details

Feb. 8 – March 23, 2025
Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, VT  Details

March 29 – May 11, 2025
Jefferson Historical Society, Jefferson, NH  Details

May 31 - July 12, 2025
Museum of the White Mountains, Plymouth, NH  Details

Aug. 25 - Sept. 28, 2025
Old Stone House Museum, Brownington, VT  Details

Museum on Main Street is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and brought to you by New Hampshire Humanities and Vermont Humanities.