MOSES LAKE—Humanities Washington kicks off a two-year statewide tour of a new traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibit this weekend at the Moses Lake Museum and Arts Center.

Journey Stories, which explores the history, evolution, and cultural impact of transportation and migration in the United States, will visit four other Washington State communities during the tour’s first year. The tour is made possible through a partnership between Humanities Washington and the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program.

“Through this program, we are building the capacity of local museums, enabling them to provide exciting new learning opportunities for children and families throughout the state,” said Julie Ziegler, Humanities Washington’s executive director. “This program is one of the best examples of our mission in action.”

Host sites who participate in the tour receive technical assistance, including the opportunity to attend exhibit planning workshops that help curators identify specific goals for hosting the exhibit (reach new audiences, grow volunteer base, etc.) and assist them in developing a schedule of outreach programs and complementary local exhibits. New this year is a school curriculum guide and traveling trunk which will enable host sites to work more effectively with local schools.

“Our program enables museums to bring the Smithsonian to town at a very low cost. If these sites were to rent the exhibit independently from the Smithsonian, it could cost as much as $50,000 to $100,000,” Ziegler said.

“We simply couldn’t do all of these programs without the help of Humanities Washington,” agreed Ann Golden, Curator at Moses Lake Museum and Arts Center. “This tour will have a big impact on communities such as ours.”

The exhibit will run in Moses Lake through July 11. The museum has developed two local exhibits about railroad history and travel memorabilia to run alongside Journey Stories. Other outreach events include free presentations about the railroads and travel-themed folk songs.

“We are thrilled to be the first stop on the tour,” said Golden. “We’ll be promoting the exhibit on Saturday, June 5, with a free community luncheon that celebrates our railroad history.”

2010-2011 Journey Stories dates and locations include:
May 29-July 11, 2010 Moses Lake Museum & Art Center Moses Lake
July 17-Aug. 29, 2010 Orcas Island Historical Museum Eastsound (Orcas Island)
Sept. 4-Oct. 17, 2010 Jefferson County Historical Society Port Townsend
Oct. 23-Dec. 5, 2010 Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum Ilwaco
Dec. 11-Jan. 23, 2011 Cowlitz County Historical Museum Kelso

The tour is sponsored in part by a grant from Union Pacific.

ABOUT HUMANITIES WASHINGTON
Humanities Washington is a statewide organization dedicated to improving life for individuals and their communities through interdisciplinary cultural education programs that nurture creativity, promote dialogue and spark critical thinking.

Humanities Washington’s programs include Motheread®, a family literacy program; Inquiring Mind, a speakers’ bureau featuring dynamic presenters on a broad array of humanities topics; an exhibits program which brings Smithsonian exhibitions to small rural and suburban museums; and grants to support grassroots humanities projects in Washington State. For more information on Humanities Washington visit www.humanities.org.