SITES shapes exhibitions to meet the needs of all kinds of institutions. For example, as the result of feedback from a workshop for representatives from churches and community centers for Climbing Jacob’s Ladder: The Rise of Black Churches in Eastern American Cities, 1740–1877, SITES altered its original exhibition plans, producing a survey of key exhibit subjects while leaving room for communities to include information and artifacts
pertinent to their own local history.

To reach underserved audiences across America, in 1991 SITES established Museum on Main Street, an innovative program tailored to the needs of the country’s rural communities (on average, with populations of 10,000 or fewer), and has sent Smithsonian resources and exhibitions to more than 250 communities in 33 states to date.

SITES has also reached audiences in unexpected and unusual places via train and mobile museums. SITES’ three-year tour of Art in Celebration! on Artrain stopped in 116 communities. The wide geographic range reached by the Wade in the Water Mobile Museum tour in 2001 convinced SITES to formally incorporate mobile museums into its program.

To expand its audiences to children and families, SITES has developed high-tech, hands-on science and technology exhibitions such as Spiders! and Earth 2U, Exploring Geography which often include curriculum materials for teachers.

Cultural diversity has been a hallmark of SITES exhibitions for more than twenty-five years. Current subjects include the lives of Appalachian women, the history of African American cinema, Filipino American life during and after World War II, and photographs that share an intimate portrait of the Latino experience in the U.S. Exhibition offerings are equally diverse in terms of size, type, and subject range.

SITES also recognizes that America’s music is as diverse as its people. As part of America’s Jazz Heritage, A Partnership of the Lila Wallace- Reader’s Digest Fund and the Smithsonian Institution, SITES has presented numerous exhibitions on jazz, culminating with Latin Jazz: La combinación perfecta/The Perfect Combination, which opened in 2002. Other recent exhibitions have explored the rich musical heritage of
America from gospels to corridos.

SITES’ commitment to increasing access to the Smithsonian’s collections and research has never been stronger. With exciting and inventive programs, we look forward to serving an everbroadening community of exhibitors.

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