Smithsonian Partners With Illinois Humanities on Statewide Traveling Exhibition Celebrating Rural Innovation

Spark! Places of Innovation features seven Illinois communities – five of whom will host the tour.

CHICAGO, JUNE 14, 2023 — Illinois Humanities today is announcing the June 17 launch of the Spark! Places of Innovation Illinois tour. The newest traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program will tour seven towns in Illinois through Spring, 2024. Illinois Humanities partners with the Smithsonian to bring world-class, multimedia Smithsonian exhibitions to small towns and rural communities in Illinois.

The national exhibition features seven Illinois towns: Equality (Gallatin County), Hillsboro (Montgomery County), Chatsworth (Livingston County), Rushville (Schuyler County), Marshall (Clark County), Atlanta (Logan County), and Fairbury (Livingston County). The tour will visit five of the Illinois communities featured in Spark! (Equality, Hillsboro, Chatsworth, Rushville, Marshall), as well as Durand (Winnebago County) and Havana (Mason County).

“We couldn’t be prouder to premier this national traveling Smithsonian exhibition right here in Illinois,” says Illinois Humanities Executive Director Gabrielle Lyon. “Not only does the exhibit prominently feature our rural communities, but each tour stop highlights beautiful examples of the state’s spirit of invention and resourcefulness. Since each site features unique programming and local stories, it’s a great excuse to visit the show at more than one location.”

Through partnerships with organizations local to each community, every tour stop will showcase the town’s homegrown stories, local events and history.

The exhibition premieres in Equality where it will be locally hosted by the Gallatin County Tourism Committee. The committee will showcase events for visitors to learn more about the local salt mines and their role in the town’s history. Additionally, on June 18, the public event “Legends and Lore of the Gallatin Salines and the Crenshaw House,” will tell the story of local historical figures and landmarks that play important roles in Equality’s legacy as the last town in Illinois to use enslaved labor.

Spark! is Illinois Humanities’ 13th collaboration with Museum on Main Street.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

• June 17 – July 22, 2023: Equality, IL
  Ohio River Visitor Center, 101 West Lane Street, Equality, IL
  Lecture Series: 155 West Lane Street, Equality, IL
• July 29 – September 2, 2023: Hillsboro, IL
  Hillsboro Public Library, 420 South Main Street, Hillsboro, IL
• September 9 – October 14, 2023: Chatsworth, IL
  Central Illinois Connection Center, 404-408 East Locust Street, Chatsworth, IL
• October 21 – November 25, 2023: Rushville, IL
  The HUB Arts and Cultural Center, 210 North Congress Street, Rushville, IL
• December 2, 2023 – January 6, 2024: Durand, IL
  Masonic Hall, 420 North Center Street, Durand, IL
• January 13 – February 17, 2024: Havana, IL
  Havana City Center, 326 West Market Street, Havana, IL
• February 24 – March 30, 2024: Marshall, IL
  Marshall Public Library, 612 Archer Avenue, Marshall, IL