Museum on Main Street

Museum on Main Street brings the world-famous Smithsonian museum to rural citizens across Nebraska. These engaging exhibitions focus on common experiences from sparking lasting professional improvement for local cultural organizations.

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 by sparking lasting professional improvement for local cultural organizations.

On Tour June 2026-July 2027:
SPARK! Places of Innovation

The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. People are problem- solvers. Sometimes we invent. More often, we innovate—we introduce a fresh idea or an invention into use in some way that creates a new way of doing or thinking.

Invention can happen anywhere and it’s happening right now in small towns across America. Rural Americans are creating new products, taking risks, meeting challenges together, and seizing upon exciting opportunities that change local life and sometimes reach far beyond.

Spark! Places of Innovation is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. It is based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

This exhibition is designed for small museums and similar locations, using art, photography, artifacts and interactives. Previous site hosts for Museum on Main Street exhibitions have experienced increased professional practices among staff and volunteers, increased knowledge of educational practices, learned new exhibition techniques, acquisitions of new items for permanent collections, increased visitor rates, and other benefits. 

See Spark! in these Nebraska communities!

Resources

Call 402.474.2131 to sponsor this traveling exhibition. 

Events

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Today

  • Opening Day: Spark! Places of Innovation

    Custer County Historical Museum 445 South 9th Ave., Broken Bow, NE, United States

    Spark! Places of Innovation will be on display at Custer County Museum in Broken Bow June 12-July 25, 2026. Spark! Places of Innovation is part of Museum on Main Street, […]

  • Opening Day: Spark! Places of Innovation

    Dawes County Historical Society Museum 341 Country Club Road, Chadron, NE, United States

    Spark! Places of Innovation will be on display at Dawes County Historical Society in Chadron August 3-September 11, 2026. Spark! Places of Innovation is part of Museum on Main Street, […]