Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Meridian
2026-07-04 - 2026-08-15 | Soule’ Steam Works, 1808 4th Street, Meridian , MS
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Meridian

Join MHC in Meridian for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
July 4-August15, 2026
Soule Steam Museum
601-693-9905 | industrialheritagemuseum.com
Exhibit hours:
Across 2026-2027, the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring Utica, Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Special thanks to our statewide sponsor, Cadence Bank, for making this possible!
ABOUT SPARK!:
The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. Across our nation. And right here in Mississippi. Join us in 2026-2027 to catch a new Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring the state…and spark some new ideas of your own.
Spark! uses photographs, digital stories, objects, and interactive elements to explore the places, people, and circumstances that ignite innovation and invention in rural communities across our nation. The exhibit also offers a springboard for diverse local programming, spotlighting the stories, ideas, and innovations of Mississippians — and a call to contribute to the future of the towns we call home.

America250 Mississippi – Mississippi250
2026-07-04 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | The Grove Stage, University of Mississippi, 49 University Ave, University, MS, 38677, United States
The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council will expand its annual June Summer Sunset Concert Series with a special July 4th celebration in Oxford in 2026. The project blends live concerts highlighting Mississippi’s musical traditions with historian-curated readings and writing prompts on democracy, plus short documentary films exploring how Mississippi’s culture shapes the arts. Designed as a free, multimedia program, it aims to celebrate the state’s musical and democratic heritage, foster community reflection, and engage diverse audiences across generations.
The series will highlight a different element of Mississippi’s musical legacy each week—blues, gospel, country, rock and roll, and other traditions—while pairing each concert with a community writing prompt curated from historical writings on democracy. A historian will be engaged to compile a list of significant texts and excerpts related to democracy in America, with particular emphasis on Mississippi’s history and culture. This curated collection will then be adapted into age-appropriate reading lists and reflection questions, ensuring accessibility for both students and adults.
Dates:

Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.

Speakers Bureau: "All Things Mississippi: The Beautiful Landscapes and the Great Strength of the People"
2026-08-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Anguilla Methodist Church, 631 Front St, Anguilla, MS, 38721, United States
Anne McKee presents “All Things Mississippi: The Beautiful Landscapes and the Great Strength of the People”
Anne McKee is recognized statewide as a passionate teacher of Mississippi history. Through the art of storytelling, Anne McKee uplifts the accomplishments of famous Mississippians and shares explores the history of a land and a people like no other. Native to the state, McKee’s love and support for Mississippi began in childhood as she sat at the knees of relatives to learn the Mississippi story—a story for her that is always new and fresh. She dresses in costumes representing the time period of the stories featured on the day of her programs, and at times, if the audience is willing, involves attendees in her stories.

Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Greenville
2026-08-22 - 2026-10-03 | Greenville Higher Education Center, 2900 US-1 South, Greenville, MS, 38701
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Greenville

Join MHC in Greenville for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
August 22-October 3, 2026
Greenville Higher Education Center at Mississippi Delta Community College Greenville Campus
662-332-8500 | msdelta.edu/ghec/
Exhibit hours:
Across 2026-2027, the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring Utica, Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Special thanks to our statewide sponsor, Cadence Bank, for making this possible!
ABOUT SPARK!:
The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. Across our nation. And right here in Mississippi. Join us in 2026-2027 to catch a new Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring the state…and spark some new ideas of your own.
Spark! uses photographs, digital stories, objects, and interactive elements to explore the places, people, and circumstances that ignite innovation and invention in rural communities across our nation. The exhibit also offers a springboard for diverse local programming, spotlighting the stories, ideas, and innovations of Mississippians — and a call to contribute to the future of the towns we call home.

Speakers Bureau: “Ain’t That America? History and Culture in the Country"
2026-09-19 18:30 - 20:30 | Anguilla Methodist Church, 631 Front St, Anguilla, MS, 38721, United States
James “Jim” Giesen presents “Ain’t That America? History and Culture in the Country”
Since 1920 the number of farmers in America has been dropping, yet the place of farming — and of rural life generally — in the American mind is stronger than ever. The images we encounter in country songs, labels at the grocery store and in country-fried restaurants tell us that to live the rural life is to live the most American of lives: to work honestly, for long hours and for mostly internal rewards. Our culture presents farmers as nothing short of heroes. But this was not always the case. This talk charts the rise, fall and rise again of the American farmer and rural life in the American consciousness with images from music videos, snippets of song lyrics, Cracker Barrel billboards and even some Congressional testimony. It seeks to answer the questions, why does this particular image of the farmer hold such sway, and what do the changes in that image over time tell us about Americans’ insecure relationship with its history?

America250 Mississippi - The Town Creek Celebration & Archaeology Exposition Festival
2026-10-03 | Dorothy J. Lowe Memorial Library / Nettleton, 165 Young Avenue, Nettleton, MS, 38858, United States
The Town Creek Celebration & Archaeology Exposition is a one-day, multi-generational cultural heritage event hosted in Nettleton, Mississippi. Designed to honor the region’s Indigenous, civic, and civil rights history, the event will take place at Lowe Library and surrounding venues. Through interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, oral history recordings, and educational panels, the project will foster community pride, historical awareness, and inclusive learning.
Activities will include Indigenous dance and music performances, flint knapping demonstrations, genealogy workshops, and civil rights panels featuring renowned historians and advocates. Attendees will also contribute to a large-scale place-name mapping exhibit, highlighting the Chickasaw and Choctaw linguistic heritage embedded in Mississippi’s geography. All oral histories and genealogy resources will be archived at Lowe Library, ensuring long-term educational access and cultural preservation.
The event is expected to engage over 500 participants, including youth, elders, educators, tribal members, and civic leaders. Its inclusive design ensures that every attendee, regardless of age, background, or experience, can participate meaningfully in the celebration and contribute to the preservation of local history.

The Town Creek Celebration & Archaeology Exposition is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026, as a full-day public event hosted at Lowe Library and surrounding venues in Nettleton, Mississippi. Programming will begin at 9:00 AM and continue until 8:30 PM, culminating in a patriotic fireworks finale.
Planned Activities Include:

9:00 AM – Opening Ceremony: Welcome remarks and overview of the day’s events
9:30 AM – Indigenous Place-Name Mapping Exhibit Opens: Interactive map of Mississippi with magnetic markers for Chickasaw and Choctaw town names
10:00 AM – Oral History Recording Station Opens: Video interviews with older citizens begin; historic audio archive available for listening
10:30 AM – Flint Knapping Demonstration & Artifact Showcase: Live tool-making demo and relic identification station
11:30 AM – Chickasaw Dance & Music Performance: Traditional regalia and live music presentation
1:00 PM – Indigenous-Inspired Art Workshops Begin: Hands-on sessions led by certified art educators
2:30 PM – Genealogy Panel & Family Tree Distribution: Expert guidance and free four-generation family tree charts
4:00 PM – Civil Rights & Historical Perspectives Panel: Featuring Kenneth Mayfield, Al Arnold, Mitch Caver, and Brad Deramus
6:00 PM – Natchez Trace Interpretation: Presentation by National Park Service ranger
7:30 PM – Patriotic Finale: Live performance of The Star-Spangled Banner followed by a choreographed fireworks display

Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Oxford
2026-10-10 - 2026-11-21 | Oxford Lafayette Library, 401 Bramlett Blvd , Oxford, MS, 38655, United States
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Oxford

Join MHC in Oxford for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
October 10-November 21, 2026
Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library
662-234-5751 | lafayettems.com/places/lafayette-county-oxford-public-library/
Exhibit hours:
Across 2026-2027, the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring Utica, Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Special thanks to our statewide sponsor, Cadence Bank, for making this possible!
ABOUT SPARK!:
The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. Across our nation. And right here in Mississippi. Join us in 2026-2027 to catch a new Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring the state…and spark some new ideas of your own.
Spark! uses photographs, digital stories, objects, and interactive elements to explore the places, people, and circumstances that ignite innovation and invention in rural communities across our nation. The exhibit also offers a springboard for diverse local programming, spotlighting the stories, ideas, and innovations of Mississippians — and a call to contribute to the future of the towns we call home.

Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Hattiesburg
2026-11-28 - 2027-01-09 | Eureka School, 412 East 6th Street, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401, United States
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Hattiesburg

Join MHC in Hattiesburg for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
November 28, 2026-January 9,2027
The Historic Eureka School with the 6th Street Museum District
601-268-3220 | hattiesburgeureka.com
Exhibit hours:
Across 2026-2027, the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring Utica, Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Special thanks to our statewide sponsor, Cadence Bank, for making this possible!
ABOUT SPARK!:
The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. Across our nation. And right here in Mississippi. Join us in 2026-2027 to catch a new Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring the state…and spark some new ideas of your own.
Spark! uses photographs, digital stories, objects, and interactive elements to explore the places, people, and circumstances that ignite innovation and invention in rural communities across our nation. The exhibit also offers a springboard for diverse local programming, spotlighting the stories, ideas, and innovations of Mississippians — and a call to contribute to the future of the towns we call home.

Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Gulfport
2027-01-16 - 2027-02-27 | Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, 246 Dolan Avenue, Gulfport, MS, 39507, United States
Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in Gulfport

Join MHC in Gulfport for the Spark! Places of Innovation tour of Mississippi!
January 16, 2027-February 27, 2027
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
228-897-6039 | lmdc.org
Exhibit hours:
Across 2026-2027, the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring Utica, Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Special thanks to our statewide sponsor, Cadence Bank, for making this possible!
ABOUT SPARK!:
The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. Across our nation. And right here in Mississippi. Join us in 2026-2027 to catch a new Smithsonian traveling exhibit touring the state…and spark some new ideas of your own.
Spark! uses photographs, digital stories, objects, and interactive elements to explore the places, people, and circumstances that ignite innovation and invention in rural communities across our nation. The exhibit also offers a springboard for diverse local programming, spotlighting the stories, ideas, and innovations of Mississippians — and a call to contribute to the future of the towns we call home.
