By Robin Hunt
A new exhibit opened at the John Wesley Powell River Historical Museum in Green River on Saturday, drawing a large crowd on opening day and hoping for even more visitors in the coming days and weeks.
For the first time, the museum has Spanish-translated labels available at the information desk, and all flyers and social media posts promoting the new exhibit feature both English and Spanish translations.
The centerpiece exhibit in the room is the Smithsonian’s “Crossroads: The Changing Face of Rural America.” Next to the Smithsonian is a local exhibit called “Crossroads: A Community at the Crossroads.” “Crossroads” examines how the Green River community is constantly changing, just like the river for which the town is named.
“When we started planning Crossing the Green, we hoped that local families would reflect their own values in the exhibit. We had a lot of questions about the future and [how] “Green River families have been working on these issues for generations, with success or failure, and we were pleased to see so many residents come out on opening day. We hope you’ll have the opportunity to visit and provide input on your favorite topics over the coming year,” said museum director Janet Smoak.
The Green River community is tenacious, adaptable and resilient, and questions at the end of each section invite people in the community to reflect on what they want for the future, as well as explore how our rural identity and attraction to place define us.
“Crossroads: Change in Rural America” will be on display through Saturday, Aug. 17. A local exhibit, “Crossing the Green: Community at a Crossroads,” will be on display through spring 2025.
Photo by Elaine Hinsch
