Humanities Nebraska (HN) has announced that “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” from the Smithsonian will open at Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering on October 16 and will run through November 20. Located in the shadow of Scotts Bluff National Park at 2930 Old Oregon Trail, the museum is open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. The opening coincides with Humanities Week, a statewide observance of Humanities Nebraska’s 50th anniversary.
Previously on display in Howells, Kearney, Belvidere, and Wahoo, “Voices and Votes” is based on a major exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History called “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith.” It has many dynamic features: historical and contemporary photos; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives with short games and additional footage, photos, and information; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material. Reports from the four previous host sites have all been positive.
“We’re pleased to see visitors reflecting on the privilege and responsibility of voting as U.S.
citizens,” said Mary Yager, HN Associate Director. “This exhibition provides a reminder to all of the history that has given each of us a voice in our local, state, and national governments.”
Humanities Nebraska is collaborating with Civic Nebraska to offer special resources to “Voices and Votes” communities. With its mission to build a more modern and robust democracy for all Nebraskans, Civic Nebraska is a natural partner as “Voices and Votes” tours the state. Civic Nebraska will encourage school field trips to see the exhibition and provide a variety of interactive activities and workshops at various exhibit locations including a voting simulation, Civic Sidewalk Series to educate community members about voting and provide upcoming election information, and civic health presentations on topics such as election integrity and confidence in elections. Sites hosting the exhibition can choose from a menu of offerings.
After its five weeks in Gering, “Voices and Votes” will proceed to its final Nebraska destination. The Great Plains Black History Museum in Omaha will host the exhibition December 1, 2023 — January 27, 2024.
“Voices and Votes” is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration of the Smithsonian
Institution and Humanities Nebraska. This exhibition is brought to Nebraska with support from Nebraska Cultural Endowment, the Nebraska Trucking Association, and other generous donors. More information is available at www.humanitiesnebraska.org/voices.
Museum on Main Street is a partnership between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and state humanities councils nationwide that serves the small-town museums and citizens of rural America. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.
Humanities Nebraska is celebrating 50 years of what connects us and makes us human. Let your curiosity get the best of you and discover events throughout 2023 and during Humanities Week October 7-15. To learn more about how you can participate, please visit humanitiesnebraska.org and click on the Humanities Week banner near the top of the page.
HN is a private nonprofit with a mission to help people explore what connects us and makes
us human. HN is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, an appropriation from the Nebraska Legislature, private donations, and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, a public-private partnership with state dollars matching private dollars to benefit the arts and humanities in Nebraska.