South Carolina Humanities is pleased to announce that six communities in South Carolina will host the traveling Smithsonian exhibit Americans in 2026-2027. Americans explores how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the culture of the United States. Each host site will display the exhibit for 6 weeks and sponsor collateral programs that will engage the community in education and conversation.
Congratulations to the six successful host sites:
August 22 – October 3, 2026 – USC Lancaster Native American Studies Center
October 10 – November 21, 2026 – Marlboro County Museum
November 28, 2026 – January 16, 2027 – Laurens County Museum
January 23 – March 6, 2027 – Allendale County Historical Society in partnership with USC Salkehatchie
March 13 – April 24, 2027 – Black Creek Arts Council
May 1 – June 12, 2027 – Edisto Island Museum
American Indians are less than 1 percent of the population, yet images of Indians are everywhere. From imagery on commercial products and professional and high school sports mascots, to classic Westerns and episodes of Seinfeld and South Park, we are surrounded by American Indian imagery. Indian names are everywhere too, from state, city, and street names to the Tomahawk missile. The exhibit poses the question, “How is it that Indians can be so present and so absent in American life?”
Based on a major exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, Americans surrounds visitors with images and objects from popular culture and delves into historical events like Thanksgiving, the Trail of Tears, and Little Bighorn. The exhibition invites visitors to explore this complicated history and to share local stories about Native American history and culture and identity.
With the support and guidance of SC Humanities and the Smithsonian, the six South Carolina host sites will develop complementary exhibits, host public programs, and facilitate initiatives to develop their cultural assets, engage in new collaborations, and grow their community identities in new and inspiring ways.
Dr. Jennifer Gunter, Executive Director of SC Humanities, is excited to be bringing Americans to South Carolina: “We at South Carolina Humanities could not be more proud to be sponsoring the Smithsonian traveling exhibit Americans. Some of the earliest descriptions of our state and its people were made by Hernando De Soto in 1540 at the town of Cofitachequi, near present day Camden. He told of the riches and beauty of the people and the land, especially that of their female chief. South Carolina still is home to riches and beautiful people. This exhibit will offer ongoing opportunities for folks to discuss this history as well as the present day influence of Native Americans in South Carolina.”
Americans was developed by the National Museum of the American Indian. The exhibition was adapted for travel by Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils across the country. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.
Americans has been made possible in South Carolina by South Carolina Humanities.
If you would like more information about Americans in South Carolina, please contact T.J. Wallace at tjwallace@schumanities.org or 803-771-2477. More details about the unique programs that each local community will provide will be shared in 2026.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c)3 organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos, and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.