Versailles, IN—Ripley County Tourism Bureau has been awarded $1,500 by Indiana Humanities to host a local program exploring themes from a traveling Smithsonian-curated exhibit, called “Crossroads: Change in Rural America.” The “Crossroads” exhibit will tour six Indiana communities from Sept. 7, 2019, to June 21, 2020. In addition to Versailles, 10 other communities received $1,500 stipends to host programs and locally curated exhibits around rural change during the time of the tour.
Nearly 100 years ago, the 1920 census revealed that for the first time, more Americans lived in urban environments than in rural communities. Since 1900, the percentage of Americans living in rural areas dropped from 60 percent to 17 percent, yet the vast majority of America’s physical landscape remains rural. “Crossroads” looks at this remarkable societal change and how rural Americans responded.
“We are thrilled to provide funds to underserved areas in Indiana like Versailles to explore the many themes of rural change that resonate with Hoosiers today, including identity, land, community, persistence and managing change,” said Keira Amstutz, president, and CEO of Indiana Humanities. “We look forward to using the themes of the tour to celebrate our rural past while sparking conversations about our future.”
Tourism will work with Main Street Versailles on the South Ripley School Consolidation Exhibit to explore the past – from one-room schoolhouses in four townships to today’s one consolidated school system and the impact on the community. The presentation will take place at the new Versailles Town Hall Building during the Versailles Pumpkin Show September 25-28th. Hours will be Wednesday-Friday from 6pm to 9 pm and Saturday noon to 8 pm.
Ripley County tourism will also partner with Southeast Indiana REMC to explore the electrification of rural America at a later date.
Indiana Humanities is sponsoring the tour of this exhibit in conjunction with its new thematic initiative—called INseparable, which launces in 2019. Through a variety of programs, Indiana Humanities will encourage Hoosiers to explore how we relate to each other across urban, suburban and rural lines and spark conversations about our futures.
