Special Projects & Programs:
MetLife Foundation Awards $250,000 Grant to Support Smithsonian Community Grants Program 2.10.05 The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), the largest traveling exhibition service in the world, announced today that it has received a $250,000 grant from MetLife Foundation. The money will be used to strengthen the connections between museums nationwide and their communities by supporting the new Smithsonian Community Grants program. "This is an excellent opportunity to encourage our exhibitors to engage their audiences in new and exciting ways," said Anna R. Cohn, SITES director. "We are pleased with this tremendous show of support from MetLife Foundation and we recognize the impact that their support will have for museums and their visitors." The grants will enable exhibitors to enhance current program offerings or to create a new program suited to the topic of the SITES exhibition that they will be hosting. Potential programs include, but are not limited to, community outreach, lecture/film series, family days, and educational workshops/classes. Grants up to $5,000, will be awarded based on criteria that each exhibitor must meet. For more information on how to apply for a Smithsonian Community Grant, visit www.sites.si.edu or email sitesgrants@si.edu. "This will allow our exhibitors to broaden their base audiences," said Cohn. "As SITES continues to bring the Smithsonian beyond Washington, this financial support from MetLife Foundation will enrich the experience of museum visitors nationwide." "Museums are a vibrant force in our communities. They bring together people from all walks of life and play an important role in the education of both children and adults," added Sibyl Jacobson, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. SITES is the largest traveling exhibition in the world. Each year, SITES shares the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside of Washington, D.C. One of the Smithsonian's four National Programs, SITES makes available a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown in museums, libraries, science centers, community centers, botanical gardens and shopping malls. SITES exhibitions range from 500-square-foot panel exhibitions for rural communities to 5,000-square-foot blockbusters. On average, SITES exhibitions visit between seven and 12 venues, staying about 12 weeks in each location. During 2005-2007, SITES will bring approximately 150 exhibitions to 750 venues in 50 states. To learn more about SITES, visit www.sites.si.edu. MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to carry on its longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants are made to support health, educational, civic and cultural organizations and programs. Recognizing the vital role museums play in building communities and educating young people, MetLife Foundation supports initiatives to increase opportunities and access and reach broader audiences through inclusive programming. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.
# # # # Jennifer Schommer 202.633.3121 or schommerj@si.edu
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Smithsonian Institution Launches Web Site Honoring Roberto Clemente’s Achievements On and Off the Field 8.1.05 The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) has launched a Web site, highlighting the remarkable life and baseball career of Puerto Rican, Hall of Fame right-fielder Roberto Clemente. This bilingual (English and Spanish) Web site-www.robertoclemente.si.edu-features a virtual exhibition and timeline, children's section with games and activities, and a teacher's resource area with free downloadable curriculum guides. "Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente" is an online exhibition based on one originally on view at San Juan's Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico and crafted in close concert with the Clemente family. The Web site, a collaboration among SITES, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, and CARIMAR, captures the original's uniquely Puerto Rican perspective for an American audience. Offering telling glimpses through the eyes of his family and friends, the exhibition explores Clemente's childhood experiences and the baseball fever that gripped Puerto Rico during the mid-20th century. From 1955-1972, Clemente played right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates. His on-field achievements included four National League batting titles for highest average in the league; 12 Golden Glove awards for excellence in fielding; and two Most Valuable Player awards. More meaningful than any accolades earned on the field, off the field Clemente was a hero to the public and a voice for everyday people. He reached the status of cultural icon in both Puerto Rico and the mainland United States, and his name is synonymous with ethnic pride for Puerto Ricans. Clemente helped forge a path to the major leagues for the masses of Latino ballplayers that would follow him, similar to what Jackie Robinson did for African Americans a decade earlier. Clemente addressed the issue of racism openly in the media, refusing to accept the status quo. Throughout his life, Clemente demonstrated extraordinary devotion to his community and homeland. His humanitarian work resulted in the founding of "Sports City," an athletic complex near San Juan for disadvantaged youth. His advocacy for the rights and importance of the peoples of Latin America was strengthened by his cultural identification with them despite his stardom. Tragically, Clemente lost his life in a plane crash while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. In his 38 years, Roberto Clemente became a baseball legend in the United States and a national icon in his homeland. "Beyond Baseball" serves as an educational resource and presents engaging ways to explore Clemente's athleticism and humanitarianism, raise appreciation for Puerto Rican culture and show Clemente as a hero. A model of determination, social courage, and excellence, Clemente's life provides inspiration to young people. The Web site is funded by the Smithsonian Women's Committee. The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, a Smithsonian Affiliate, celebrates Puerto Rico's centuries-old artistic tradition of painting, sculpture, graphics, ceramics, folk art, photography and contemporary media. The San Juan museum collects, interprets and presents Puerto Rican art in permanent and temporary exhibitions, while fostering awareness of other art traditions from Latin America and the rest of the world. CARIMAR is one of Puerto Rico's pre-eminent exhibition project management and design firms. Based in San Juan, CARIMAR works with museums and other non-profit organizations to achieve their respective missions through curatorial, design and exhibit production services. SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. # # # # Jennifer Schommer 202.633.3121 or schommerj@si.edu |
Museum on Main Street Exhibitions
Smithsonian and State Humanities Councils Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Rural Exhibitions: Congressionally funded exhibitions to continue touring rural America 5.26.04 One-fifth of all Americans live in rural areas and one-half of all U.S. museums are located in small, rural towns. Tuscumbia, Ala.; Coffeyville, Kan.; Philomath, Ore.; Smithfield, Va.-these communities are among the nearly 400 communities in 36 states that have hosted Smithsonian exhibitions as part of Museum on Main Street since its inception in 1994. In 2001, Congress gave the Smithsonian $500,000 to continue the mission of Museum on Main Street, a collaborative effort between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and the Federation of State Humanities Councils that serves small town museums and residents of rural America by bringing in exhibitions that draw on communities' own history and experiences. "This project has provided an opportunity for many communities throughout the nation to recognize the amazing breadth of history stored in our backyards," said Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD). "I commend the Smithsonian and the numerous local organizations for bringing this wonderful project to life." For 10 years now, the program's four exhibitions to date-"Produce for Victory: Posters on the American Home Front, 1941-1945," "Barn Again! Celebrating an American Icon," "Yesterday's Tomorrows: Past Visions of the American Future" and "Key Ingredients: America by Food"-have inspired heightened awareness of local history on a variety of subjects and helped highlight the importance of small communities throughout America's rich cultural history. SITES organizes the exhibitions for travel and provides staff to help with exhibition management and object care through installation workshops and museum resource materials. Two new exhibitions from the program are set to open in the next few years: "Between Fences," a visual cultural history of fences and land use that examines how neighbors and nations divide and protect, offend and defend through the boundaries they build; and "American Roots Music," which tells the story of America's folk songs through the ages. For descriptions of all Museum on Main Street exhibitions and itineraries, go to www.museumonmainstreet.org.. Working with in state scholar teams, state humanities councils train local organizers in proposal writing and program planning, and help leverage state and regional resources to prepare exhibition related events such as the "Farm Fest" held in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. Based on Barn Again, each weekend of this eight-week festival had its own theme fitted to the local community and its neighbors. Over 12,000 people visited the exhibition and participated in the community's planned activities - far exceeding the town's population of 2,800. "Over the past 10 years, hundreds of small museums and historical societies have been able to augment their programs and attract more visitors through participation in the Museum on Main Street program. Thanks to the support of the U.S. Congress, the Smithsonian and State Humanities Councils will continue to expand the cultural life of our host communities across the country," said Esther Mackintosh, President of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. By linking to the local history of each venue, the exhibitions bring to life an astonishing array of public programs and generate unprecedented volunteerism, local philanthropy, cultural tourism, performing arts projects, and ambitious capital improvements. When the population of Butler, Tenn. decided they wanted to bring the Smithsonian into their town, they put into action a plan for a new museum. The entire community worked collectively to succeed in building this new cultural center. For SITES, Museum on Main Street exemplifies the fulfillment of its mission: to extend Smithsonian collections, research and exhibitions to communities across the nation. For state humanities councils, Museum on Main Street broadens public investigation of the humanities, inspires community pride and cooperation, and develops a heightened awareness of local heritage. For communities, Museum on Main Street provides an opportunity to personalize a national exhibition, creating an exclusive, local experience. "Museum on Main Street is a perfect demonstration of the Smithsonian's commitment to bring our nation's treasures to local communities across America. We are proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this successful initiative, and look forward to working with our partners to bring more exhibitions that celebrate American life to people across the country," said Anna R. Cohn, director of SITES. Major funding for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U.S. Congress, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional funding has been provided by The Hearst Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution Special Exhibitions Fund and the Smithsonian Institution Educational Outreach Fund. The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play, including museums, libraries, science centers, historical societies, community centers, botanical gardens, schools and shopping malls. MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET 400 75 500-900 36 17,577 43,373 # # # # Jennifer Schommer 202.633.3121 or schommerj@si.edu
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Smithsonian Exhibition Explores the Role of Fences in America 6.20.05 Fences are icons of the American landscape. They can be used to create a welcoming picture of home or a wall of privacy and security. Fences have pitted rancher against rancher in the battle for scarce resources; back fences serve as meeting places where neighbors share recipes, local gossip or a friendly joke. Americans live between fences. "Between Fences," an exhibition from Museum on Main Street, a partnership of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and the Federation of State Humanities Councils, examines the history and meaning of fences in America. Included in the exhibition are tools, photographs, journals, postcards and posters relating to the history of fences. Fences are an integral part of the fabric of the communities in the United States; so too is their rich history. In September, five copies of the exhibition will tour rural museums in Illinois, Mississippi, Washington, Nevada and New Mexico. Working in conjunction with their state humanities councils, the host museums will develop public programs and local exhibitions to supplement the Smithsonian exhibit. The exhibition then will tour additional states during its five-year run. Fences are as complex as they are simple. Consider some of the more popular types - a rusted barbed wire fence; a new, perfectly aligned white picket fence or a tall chain link fence - each potentially conveys a message about the owner of the fence, their lives, and the nature of their relations with their neighbors. "Between Fences" focuses on a range of fence materials and how they have varied over time and by region. Colonial America's first fences were made of wood or stone. But as settlement moved westward, forests dwindled. Farmers needing to protect their crops from free-ranging cattle came to rely on the steel wire industry to create strong, inexpensive fence material. Using fences to establish boundaries led to the fence wars of the late 19th century. These conflicts turned neighbor against neighbor, sometimes with deadly consequences. More than two centuries later, the question is posed: What is the intent of fences? "Between Fences" encourages visitors to embrace the importance of a crucial aspect of our personal and national heritage. As visitors explore the exhibition, encountering fences and gateways, they will get a sense of the unspoken communication and interaction that fences play in our lives. Do fences contain or exclude? When does a privacy fence become a spite fence? Do gated communities give the residents a special bond, or exclude outsiders? Further, visitors will be asked to consider both how and why we build fences, and how they reflect who we are as individuals, communities and as a nation. Just looking at the diversity of fences speaks to the American culture. The worm fence, one of the most widely built, garnered the attention of many 18th- and 19th-century visitors to the United States. Its unique design facilitated international understanding of the American culture. The exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, which serves museums, libraries and historical societies in rural America. The SITES-Federation of State Humanities Councils partnership, which began in 1994, was formed as a creative response to the challenge faced by rural museums to enhance their own cultural legacies. Major funding for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress. Communities that have already participated in Museum on Main Street have found it has raised public awareness and support for the facilities that are so often the cultural backbone of small towns. The exhibitions have greatly increased community involvement, leaving lasting legacies in the museums that host them. Writing about a Museum on Main Street exhibit, Teresa M. Goforth of the Courthouse Square Association in Charlotte, Mich, said "I must say this is by far one of the best programs we have offered to our community. Our visitation increased approximately 400 percent. Museum on Main Street is a godsend to small museums such as ours." For more information, visit www.museumonmainstreet.org. The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For additional information about the tour in individual states, contact the following representatives:
# # # # Jennifer Schommer 202.633.3121 or schommerj@si.edu
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Smithsonian Exhibition on World War II Posters Visits Mississippi in Time for July 4th 7.1.02 Reproductions of colorful posters, circulated throughout the United States during World War II to mobilize the nation's support for the overseas war effort, will travel to Meridian, Miss. as part of a Smithsonian tour, hosted by the Memory Tree Foundation, Inc., of Meridian. "Produce for Victory: Posters on the American Home Front, 1941-1945" opens on July 4 at the restored historic Meridian Train Depot at 1901 Front Street. Prior to the opening, there will be a reception on July 3 at 6 p.m. "Home front heroes," who have been selected from each of the seven Mississippi communities that have hosted the exhibition, will be acknowledged during a short awards ceremony. There will also be a special guest appearance by the original "Rosie-the-Riveter," Ethel Kelley. Following the reception, a USO show will open to the public at 7:30 p.m. On July 4, the exhibition will open to the public at 10 a.m. and remain on view until August 31. The admission is free and the hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Fourth of July Memory Tree Foundation's "Proud to be an American Parade," held at Bonita Lakes, will begin at 7 p.m. Citizens of all ages are encouraged to participate in this display of American pride on the Nation's birthday. The parade will proceed across the dam down to center stage beside the upper lake, where the Meridian Symphony Orchestra will play 1940s era music before and during patriotic fireworks. The exhibition - which is designed to serve libraries, historical societies and museums in rural areas - features 25 reproductions of World War II posters from the collections of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, Behring Center. "Produce for Victory" focuses on the images-displayed in factories, shop windows, schools and other public places around the country-which rallied a nation to take the steps necessary at home to support soldiers in the field. Citizens were instructed to conserve automobile fuel by carpooling, to organize scrap drives and to grow victory gardens to reduce the burden on the nation's farmers growing crops for overseas consumption. "Produce for Victory" is one of a series of exhibitions circulating nationally as part of Museum on Main Street, a collaborative partnership between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and state humanities councils across the country in cooperation with the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Major funding to date has been provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Hearst Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Generous support also has been provided by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution's Special Exhibitions Fund and Educational Outreach Fund. "We are very pleased to be able to bring 'Produce for Victory' to our area," said Barbara Carpenter, director of the Mississippi State Humanities Council. "We hope that it will inspire many to become even more involved in the cultural life of our community in Meridian." The exhibition, which will also examine regional home front history and honor home front heroes, is augmented by locally lent materials such as ration cards, victory garden cookbooks, plane spotter guides, children's toys and other memorabilia. Collected oral histories will document Meridian's contribution to the war effort. The Memory Tree Foundation was established in 1998 for people of all ages to encourage pride and patriotism, by preserving the memories of veterans and those who serve, from the American Revolution to the present, allowing the United States to stand firm in the meaning of freedom. For more information, visit www.meridianms.org/Memorytree. Each year, SITES shares the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside of Washington, D.C. One of the Smithsonian's four National Programs, SITES makes available a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown not only in museums but also wherever people live, work, and play, including libraries, science centers, historical societies, community centers, botanical gardens, schools and shopping malls. In 2002, SITES celebrates 50 years of connecting Americans to their shared cultural heritage. # # # #
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Smithsonian Barn Exhibition Tours Delaware, South Dakota and Washington 5.1.01 In September 2000, the Smithsonian's traveling exhibition "Barn Again! Celebrating an American Icon" began the fourth year of its national tour, hosted by museums in Delaware, South Dakota, and Washington. Exploring barns in all segments of American life, from their agricultural forms to their use in advertising, Barn Again! Celebrating and American Icon will open at the Douglas County Historical Society, Waterville, Wash., on May 26 and will continue through July 8. Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and the National Building Museum, with assistance from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and in association with the Federation of State Humanities councils and the state humanities councils of Delaware, South Dakota and Washington, Barn Again! looks at the origin and fate of the barn in its various roles as warehouse, factory and legend. The state humanities councils of Delaware, South Dakota, and Washington, working with SITES and individual museums, will present complimentary public programming at each stop on the tour. The Exhibition Barn Again!" gives exhibition visitors new ways to consider a familiar icon. The exhibition surveys the agricultural changes that led to architectural adaptations on the farm, following major movements in American history such as 19th-century European immigration and westward migration. Industrial farming in the 20th-century has rendered many traditional barns obsolete because they cannot accommodate the enormous machinery and harvests of today's large-scale farms. The loss of these architectural structures is changing forever our rural landscape and depriving us of important historical monuments. Highlighting distinct architectural types, the exhibition's variety of barn styles reveals the creativeness of farmer-builders who adapted these structures to fit their own needs-from the connected barns and houses of New England to the large dairy barns of the Midwest. Even as barns disappear from the countryside, their iconic role in American culture remains constant. Advertising and industry professionals, politicians and artists frequently use barn imagery to convey American values such as dependability, hard work, independence and traditionalism. Advertisers, for example, use pictures of barns to convey the idea of a product's "just-off-the-farm" freshness. This project was made possible with generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Hearst Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution Special Exhibition Fund and the Smithsonian Educational Outreach Fund. Museum on Main Street Communities that have already participated in Museum on Main Street have found it has raised public awareness and support for the facilities that are so often the cultural backbone of small towns. The exhibitions have greatly increased resident involvement, leaving lasting legacies in the communities that host them. Rose Scott, director of the Josephine County Historical Society in Grants Pass, Ore., whose museum presented "Barn Again!" said, "It started out as just a museum exhibit and ended up getting the whole community involved. The historical society's library moved to a new building thanks to local fund-raising in conjunction with 'Barn Again!'" Writing about a Museum on Main Street exhibit, Teresa M. Goforth of the Courthouse Square Association in Charlotte, MI, said "I must say this is by far one of the best programs we have offered to our community. Our visitation increased approximately 400% . . . SITES' rural initiatives program is a godsend to small museums such as ours." When asked how "Barn Again!" impacted her museum, Melanie Bradford from the Scottsburo-Jackson Heritage Center in Scottsburo, Ala., responded, "I could write a book on that. The community became very excited about it. Local businesses who hadn't donated funds in the past were receptive this time, and those that gave in the past generally gave more." SITES - a major outreach arm of the Smithsonian Institution - extends the Smithsonian collections, research and exhibitions across the nation and to many countries. Since 1952, SITES has organized and circulated exhibitions on the arts, sciences and humanities. ###
Jennifer Schommer 202.633.3121 or schommerj@si.edu
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Yesterday's Tomorrws: How We Have Imagined the Future Explored in Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition 1.15.01 Ray guns, robots and plans for a nuclear-powered car are all part of “Yesterday’s Tomorrows: Past Visions of the American Future,” a new traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). Multiple copies of the exhibition will simultaneously tour rural cultural institutions in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri and Utah through December 2001. The exhibition is part of the Museum on Main Street project, a partnership of the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils with rural America. The partnership, established in 1991, was formed as a creative response to the challenge faced by rural museums to enhance their own cultural legacies. “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” will open at the Thomasville Cultural Center in Thomasville, Ga., on March 13 and continue on view through April 17. Mid-March marks the opening of the exhibition in the other four states. “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” focuses on popular culture and technology as seen in toys, books, movie stills, world’s fair memorabilia, car designs, advertisements and models of architectural designs to examine ways in which Americans of the late 19th and 20th centuries have envisioned the future. From the buoyant and optimistic tomorrows of General Motors’ “Futurama” at the 1939 World’s Fair to the bleak future presented in the films like “Planet of the Apes” (1968) and “War of the Worlds” (1953), this exhibit explores a range of visions from the past. Five free-standing kiosks show futuristic predictions about homes, transportation and communities. In connection with the exhibition’s national tour, the new website, www.yesterdaystomorrows.org, debuts to the public on Feb. 1, featuring fun facts and activities relating to past predictions and future visions. It includes teacher activities, national tour information, interactive games and links to other future-oriented web sites. “Yesterday’s Tomorrows: Past Visions of the American Future” has been generously supported by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Hearst Foundation. The exhibition was developed by SITES, and is an adaptation of an exhibition originally produced in cooperation with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. SITES–a major outreach arm of the Smithsonian Institution–extends the Smithsonian collections, research and exhibitions across the nation and abroad. Since 1952, SITES has organized and circulated exhibitions on the arts, sciences and humanities. Descriptions for exhibitions from the Museum on Main Street program can be found at www.sites.si.edu. # # # “Yesterdays Tomorrows” Openings and Program Highlights March 13 - April 17 Thomasville Cultural Center in Thomasville, Ga. March 15 - April 21 Panhandle Pioneer Settlement in Blountsville, Fla. March 16 - April 29 Flat River Historical Society in Greenville, Mich. March 17 - April 29 Foundation for the Restoration of Ste. Genevieve in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. March 20 - April 28 Brigham City Museum in Brigham City, Utah For additional information about programs planned in the five state tour to augment “Yesterdays Tomorrows,” please contact representatives at the State Humanities Councils listed below:
### Jennifer Schommer 202.633.3121 or schommerj@si.edu |
Oct. 16, 2006 Smithsonian’s History Collection Hits the Road In collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), exhibitions from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History showcasing sports history, American first ladies and photography will visit more than 10 U.S. cities during the next two years. Future collaborations will explore the meaning and history of the American flag and the yo-yo as a pop culture icon, and present exhibits drawn from the museum’s extensive maritime and photography collections. The National Museum of American History’s building is closed for renovation and will re-open in summer 2008. “Traveling exhibitions have always been imperative in helping to bring American history and our collections to diverse communities and museums across the country,” said Brent D. Glass, director of the museum. “Now that the museum is closed for renovation, our traveling shows represent an even greater opportunity for Americans to explore our nation’s history from sporting struggles and triumphs to the enduring legacy of the first ladies.” “Athletes have a unique ability to inspire, motivate and exhilarate.”
As a Celtics basketball legend and the first African American coach in the NBA, Russell exemplifies the athlete as definer of a sport—one who takes it to the next level. His story and those of 34 other athletes in 17 different sports are told in “Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers.” Artifacts selected emphasize such issues as women’s changing roles, racial and ethnic integration, the emergence of sports celebrities and superstars, nationalism, perceptions about human physical limitations and handicaps, and technological breakthroughs that enhanced performance and participation. A handball used by Abraham Lincoln, Bill Russell’s 10,000 rebound basketball, Gertrude Ederle’s English Channel swim goggles, Roberto Clemente’s batting helmet and a “Miracle on Ice” hockey shirt are among the dozens of artifacts featured. Spotlighting the National Museum of American History’s sports collection, the exhibition is on view at The Oakland Museum of California through Jan. 6, 2007. It will then travel to museums in Columbus, Ohio; Portland, Ore.; and Spokane, Wash. Audi is the exclusive national sponsor of the exhibition. “Being first lady is a man-sized job”
The truth in Eisenhower’s words is explored in “First Ladies: Political Role and Public Image.” The exhibition—featuring first ladies’ gowns and clothing, personal belongings, White House furnishings, political campaign materials and other historical items—examines the demanding duties of the presidential partner and national hostess; explores how her role has evolved from ceremonial partner to one of international celebrity and recognized political power; and illustrates the importance of the first lady’s public image to the success of a presidential administration. The exhibition is made possible by A&E Network. Based on one of the National Museum of American History's most visited permanent exhibitions, “First Ladies” is on view at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center until Dec. 17, and it will conclude its three-year, national tour at the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus. “I made up my mind years ago that photographers see, they don’t hear.”
Photographer Diana Walker has documented the public and private lives of America’s presidents and first families for more than a quarter century. As she tried to blend into the setting to capture her images, Walker understood that special access requires a high level of trust. “Diana Walker: Photojournalist” features some of Walker’s iconic photographs from the pages of magazines, such as Time, as well as seldom-published, behind-the-scenes images. The 82 black-and-white and color photographs depict national figures, such as President Ronald and Nancy Reagan and world figures, such as Nelson Mandela. This exhibition highlighting Walker’s intimate and recognizable photography is on view at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta until Nov. 26. It will then travel to venues in Louisville, Ky., and Kennesaw, Ga., among others. SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 50 years. It connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For more information, including exhibition descriptions and tour schedules, visit www.sites.si.edu. Information on the National Museum of American History can be found at americanhistory.si.edu. ### Jennifer Schommer 202.633.3121 or schommerj@si.edu
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