Legacy of the Plains Museum and the surrounding community has been expressly chosen by Humanities Nebraska to host “Water/Ways” as part of the Museum on Main Street program—a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. Gering, Nebraska is the last stop on this tour through the state of Nebraska before it leaves on Saturday, April 13th.
“Water/Ways” explores the endless motion of the water cycle, water’s effect on landscape, settlement and migration, and its impact on culture and spirituality. It looks at how political and economic planning is affected by access to water and control of water resources. Human creativity and resourcefulness provide new ways of protecting water resources and renewing respect for the natural environment.
Designed for small-town museums, libraries and cultural organizations, “Water/Ways” will serve as a community meeting place to convene conversations about water’s impact on American culture. With the support and guidance of our partners, Legacy of the Plains will develop a complementary exhibit, host public programs, and facilitate educational initiatives to raise people’s understanding about what water means to us.
These programs are free and open to the public.
“Water/Ways” is part of the Smithsonian’s Think Water Initiative to raise awareness of water as a critical resource for life through exhibitions, educational resources and public programs. The public can participated in the conversation on social media at #thinkWater.
The exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. To learn more about “Water/Ways” and other Museum on Main Street exhibitions, visit www.museumonmainstreet.org.
Support for MoMS has been provided by the U.S. Congress. SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit www.sites.si.edu.
Legacy of the Plains Museum would also like to thank the different organizations for partnering with us in order to provide the community with events and programs relating to water. This includes Humanities Nebraska, North Platte Natural Resources District, Scotts Bluff National Monument, the Midwest Theater, Girl Scouts: Spirit of Nebraska, ESU 13, University of Nebraska’s Panhandle Extension and Research Center, Nebraska Game and Parks, and Scottsbluff Public Schools. We would also like to thank our incredible volunteers for their support.
For more information on related programming, please contact Olivia Garl at Legacy of the Plains Museum at (308) 436-1989 or by email at curator@legacyoftheplains.org.
For more information on Legacy of the Plains Museum, the exhibit, or how to get involved, please contact Amanda Gibbs at Legacy of the Plains Museum at (308) 436-1989 or by email at director@legacyoftheplains.org.
For more information on Humanities Nebraska, please contact Mary Yager at (402) 474-2131, ext 103 or by email at mary@humanitiesnebraska.org.
For more information on the Smithsonian, please contact Jennifer Schommer at (202) 633-3121 or by email at schommerj@si.edu.