Is rural America at a 'Crossroads'? This traveling exhibit explains

Lici Beveridge, Hattiesburg American
·3 min read
"Crossroads: Change in Rural America" incorporates the stories of rural towns in Mississippi with a nationwide look at how the United States has changed over time.
"Crossroads: Change in Rural America" incorporates the stories of rural towns in Mississippi with a nationwide look at how the United States has changed over time.

What does rural America look like to you?

Is it rolling hills of green pasture with cows lazily chewing hay? Or maybe it's that little white church sitting like a guardian angel keeping watch over the surrounding cotton fields?

For some, it's that small town with little more than a gas station, a post office and a dollar store where people stop to chat with neighbors they haven't seen for a few days.

Whatever your vision of rural America, the truth is, like everywhere else, the landscape is changing.

"Crossroads: Changes in Rural America" is a Museum on Main Street exhibit by local communities and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, and it is coming to Wiggins, Mississippi.

Wiggins is hosting the Smithsonian exhibit, "Crossroads: Change in Rural America," which incorporates the stories of rural towns in Mississippi with a nationwide look at how the United States has changed over time.
Wiggins is hosting the Smithsonian exhibit, "Crossroads: Change in Rural America," which incorporates the stories of rural towns in Mississippi with a nationwide look at how the United States has changed over time.

“Stone County is proud to kick off the 'Crossroads' exhibit,” said Betsy Rowell, executive director of Stone County Economic Development Partnership. "Our business community is thrilled to have people visit from all over the region for the weeks to come."

The exhibit offers small towns a chance to look at their own histories and highlight how they have changed over the past century, including the ups and downs with a glimpse into the area's future.

"Crossroads" explores how Americans have shifted from living in small rural communities to forming clusters around large industrialized cities and back.

Wiggins is the first town in Mississippi to host the "Crossroads" exhibit. In addition to the Smithsonian's panels built around rural America, Stone County officials compiled a timeline featuring the events and industries that helped shape the Pine Belt community.

"Crossroads: Change in Rural America" incorporates the stories of rural towns in Mississippi with a nationwide look at how the United States has changed over time. The exhibit will travel to six cities in Mississippi.
"Crossroads: Change in Rural America" incorporates the stories of rural towns in Mississippi with a nationwide look at how the United States has changed over time. The exhibit will travel to six cities in Mississippi.

Local themes include the area's rich timber industry, music, food, recreation and technology.

The exhibit will be on display through Oct. 9 at the Ferris B. O’Neal Senior Center, 1240 South Magnolia Drive in Wiggins. Exhibit hours are 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Admission is free. School and group tours may be arranged by calling (601) 928-5418.

"Crossroads" will make five additional stops in Mississippi. Each will include local features along with the Smithsonian panels.

Other stops on the tour include:

  • Lawrence Franklin Regional Library in Brookhaven

  • Quitman County Arts and Culture Museum in Marks

  • West Point Clay County Community Growth Alliance in West Point

  • Mississippi’s Lower Delta Partnership in Rolling Fork

  • Pontotoc Historical Society in Pontotoc

Related events

Events will take place alongside the exhibit at Ferris B. O’Neal Senior Center, 1240 South Magnolia Drive in Wiggins.

State scholar Leah Kemp will make a presentation at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

There will be an interactive blues presentation at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 16

A children's reading session will be at 11 a.m. Sept. 23

The Pine Hill Dulcimers will perform at 11 a.m. Sept. 30

Former Mississippi Arts Commission Director Malcolm White, a Stone County native, will speak at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 3, when there will also be a pickle contest.

For more information and a list of other events, visit stonecounty.com/events.

Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Smithsonian's 'Crossroads' exhibit in Wiggins