Crossroads: Change in Rural America offers small towns a chance to look at their own paths to highlight the changes that affected their fortunes over the past century. The exhibit prompts discussions about what happened when America’s rural population became a minority of the country’s population, and the ripple effects that occurred.
Join us to discover and discuss the themes of Crossroads:
Identity – Rural identity – so deeply rooted in the land – has profoundly shaped American identity. Family farms, country roads, and small-town Main Streets are both real and imagined places; they are crossroads of competing of competing visions of rural life. What is your perception of rural America?
Land – Rural America’s prime attraction has always been land – locations to build homes, farms, businesses, communities and to build a sense of worth. Americans link the reality of land ownership with the ideal of independence. Private land symbolizes political influence and its contribution to the local economy. A sense of place exerts a powerful, almost spiritual, hold on many rural people. Even if they leave, it draws them back, sometimes to stay. It has inspired many to work and advocate for preservation so that others can experience it.
Community – A sense of community first began to form at rural crossroads where lives intersected, and common interests merged. Rural people exchanged ideas, worked toward common goals, and built toward a common future. They built powerful, dynamic communities. But changes began to occur in the 20th century that led to conditions where some communities diminished and even failed, while others found new ways to thrive.
Resilience – Rural Americans believe in their communities. They work to find solutions to problems rather than abandoning the places they live. But every community is different with challenges unique in each. To meet them, rural people have organized locally and partnered with others dedicated to rural issues. Strategies are developed that fit their communities. The attractions of rural, small-town life are strong, inspiring people to persist in their resilience.
Managing Change – What happens in rural America matters to all of America. It is important for the people who live in and care for rural America to survive and thrive. All Americans who have a stake in its success will play an important role in shaping its future. Change, good or bad, is inevitable. Managing that change is crucial.
Location:
Morriss Hall inside The Barnhill Center
(106 South Douglas Street Brenham, Texas 77833)
Dates:
December 7, 2024 – January 19, 2025
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 10am-4pm
Saturday: 10am-2pm
Sunday: 11am-2pm
For more information, call the Brenham Visitor Center at (979) 337-7580.