The Homesteader Museum’s six-week showing of the Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition “Spark! Places of Innovation” was a resounding success according to Homesteader Museum director Brandi Wright. 

The Homesteader Museum was expressly chosen by the Wyoming Humanities to host the exhibition as part of the Museum on Main Street project — a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. “Spark!” is now on view at Laramie County Public Library in Cheyenne. The exhibition will continue to tour Wyoming with one more stop at the Nicolaysen Art Museum ending the tour on March 2, 2025.

Through a selection of photographs, objects, film, audio, and interactive elements, “Spark!” explores innovation and invention taking place in rural America. The exhibition features stories and images from over 30 communities across the nation gathered through a crowdsourcing initiative. These places of innovation examined their existing assets, characteristics, people, resources, and history to tackle the challenges of today with creative solutions and chart new directions for their future. Their experiences reveal the dynamic relationship between place and creativity.

“We’re thrilled with the community’s reaction to ‘Spark!,”  Wright said. “By hosting a Smithsonian exhibition at our institution, we were able to increase our attendance numbers and garner more exposure for the Homesteader Museum. By working with the Wyoming Humanities, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, local cultural organization, and businesses we were able to offer a wide variety of educational programs for the entire community. We hope to build on these experiences in future program plans.” 

The Homesteader Museum thanks residents of Park County, homeschool groups, Northwest College International students and others who traveled to experience this exhibition. Also, the volunteers and board members who supported and worked to make this exhibition possible.

 “Spark! Places of Innovation” 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 organizations. It was inspired by “Places of Invention,” an exhibition developed by the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. To learn more visit museumonmainstreet.org, sites.si.edu, or thinkwy.org/.