South Carolina Humanities, in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum on Main Street program, is pleased to present the traveling Smithsonian exhibit Water/Ways in South Carolina. The exhibition dives into water–an essential component of life on our planet, environmentally, culturally, and historically. The exhibit will open at its sixth and final venue in South Carolina at the Historic Westminster Train Depot on Saturday, March 6 and will be on display there through April 17, 2021. Entrance to the exhibit is free.
Water is life. It forms our world and our lives. It allows us to travel; and it blocks our paths. It is crucial in determining where we live and work and what we eat and drink. It is an essential biological and natural resource that people struggle to access and control. Water shapes human culture — our ways of life. It is central to many rituals and ceremonies around the world. It inspires art and music. The Smithsonian’s Water/Ways exhibit explores our relationship to water and how all of these factors play out in our world.
Dr. Randy Akers, Executive Director of SC Humanities, said: “SC Humanities is delighted to be sponsoring the Smithsonian traveling exhibit Water/Ways throughout the state. It would be hard to find a topic more central to South Carolina. Beyond the obvious fact that water is crucial for human existence, water plays a dominant role in the environmental, cultural, economic and historical fabric of South Carolina.”
The exhibit will be open at the Historic Westminster Train Depot (29 E Main St, Westminster, SC 29693) on Mondays – Fridays, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The exhibit might also be open on some weekends that will be announced.
There are many things to see and do in the City of Westminster: https://www.westminstersc.org/visitor-info. You can check out local attractions, festivals, dining and lodging.
In addition to the Water/Ways Smithsonian exhibit, through a partnership with the South Carolina Arts Commission, the City of Westminster will host the virtual Communal Pen writing workshop on March 20 and March 27. It is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here.
SC Humanities advises that the following safety precautions be taken when visiting the exhibit: 1) wear masks 2) please sanitize hands 3) the number of guests entering the building might be limited; 4) Practice social distancing, 6 feet apart please; 5) If you’re not feeling well, stay home for the safety of all.
Westminster is the last stop for the Water/Ways exhibit in South Carolina. Previously, it visited: Hickory Knob State Park in McCormick County (June 27 – August 8, 2020), the Hampton County Library with the support of the Hampton County Historical Society (August 14 – September 23, 2020), the SC Maritime Museum in Georgetown (September 28 – November 8, 2020), Congaree National Park (November 13, 2020 – January 13, 2021), and the McClellanville Arts Council (January 18 – March 1).
Water/Ways has been made possible in South Carolina by South Carolina Humanities. The exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U.S. Congress. Support for the South Carolina tour of Water/Ways has been provided by Dominion Energy.
