We’ve been planning, we’ve been anticipating, and we’ve been building! The Crossroads: Change in Rural America exhibit at the Dillsboro Public Library is officially open on Saturday, September 7, 2019. You can explore the exhibit whenever the Dillsboro Public Library is open, including special exhibit hours on Sundays from 1-4 pm. We just ask that if you plan to bring a large group, please call ahead to let us know.

You can get a sneak preview of the exhibit by viewing this video produced by Indiana Humanities. You can also read about the exhibit at this link to Discovering Home: Your Friendly Guide to Rural Indiana. When you tour the exhibit, we have a special photo opportunity for you; take a picture and tag it #RuralCrossroads.

Many Americans consider rural communities to be endangered and hanging on by a thread—suffering from brain drain, inadequate schools, and a barren, overused landscape. Why should revitalizing the rural places left behind matter to those who remain, those who left, and those who will come in the future? Because there is much more to the story of rural America.

Crossroads: Change in Rural America offers small towns a chance to look at their own paths to highlight the changes that affected their fortunes over the past century. The exhibition will prompt discussions about what happened when America’s rural population became a minority of the country’s population and the ripple effects that occurred.

Despite the massive economic and demographic impacts brought on by these changes, America’s small towns continue to creatively focus on new opportunities for growth and development. Economic innovation and a focus on the cultural facets that make small towns unique, comfortable, and desirable have helped many communities create their own renaissance. The future is bright for much of rural America as small towns embrace the notion that their citizens and their cultural uniqueness are important assets.

We hope that hosting the Crossroads exhibit will allow people in southeastern Indiana an opportunity to think about the changes that have taken place and how local communities can respond to the change. Please bring your family and friends with you to the exhibit and talk about the content. What in the display challenges you? What can you do to enhance the sense of community in your hometown? What assets do you bring to the table?

Last spring, the Aurora Public Library District asked Dillsboro Elementary School students to write about their vision for Dillsboro. The essays and drawing will be on display during the exhibit, along with the photographs we received for our Dillsboro Photo Contest. We also have 2 special evening programs tied to the exhibit.

• On Thursday, September 26th, at the Dillsboro Public Library, Pamela Carralero from Purdue University will present “Valuing Hoosier Communities and Environments through Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior.” The program begins at 6:30 pm and will encourage those attending to reflect on how and why we value the Hoosier environment we live within.
• On Wednesday, October 9th, at 6:30 pm at the Dillsboro Public Library, Indiana singer/songwriter Kevin Stonerock will perform and will share the way his rural upbringing has influenced his music.

Thank you to all the local people who have participated in bringing this exhibit to town. You have been a wonderful example of the community spirit!