Since 1994, the Federation of State Humanities Councils and its members have been proud to partner with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services (SITES) to bring quality humanities exhibitions and cultural programming to rural America through the Museum on Main Street (MOMS) program.
State humanities councils recognize that one-fifth of all Americans live in rural areas and one-half of all U.S. museums are located in small, rural towns. Though rural museums demonstrate uncanny enthusiasm for local heritage, they have the fewest opportunities for funding or technical assistance of any segment in the museum field. By combining the prestige of Smithsonian exhibitions, the program expertise and funding resources of state humanities councils, and the remarkable volunteerism and unique histories of small rural communities, Museum on Main Street provides small museums and cultural organizations with access to otherwise scarce resources and assists them in making lasting improvements that advance their institution's ambitions.
To date, 38 state humanities councils have hosted at least one exhibition tour (many have hosted more than one) and 506 rural communities across the country have benefited from the MOMS experience, reaching more than 1.5 million people. Museum on Main Street is funded by the United States Congress.
To learn more about the various exhibitions and programs offered through the Museum on Main Street project, visit www.museumonmainstreet.org. If you'd like to see a MOMS exhibition tour your state, contact your state council.