Spark! Places of Innovation

About the Traveling Exhibit

Spark! Places of Innovation highlights innovation in rural America from the perspective of the people who lived it! Their words, images, and experiences gathered through an ambitious crowdsourcing initiative are the heartbeat of the exhibition. Technical, social, cultural, artistic, or a combination of all of these– every innovation is as unique as each community. Explore the diversity, ingenuity, and tenacity of rural Americans in Spark! Places of Innovation.

Spark! Places of Innovation explores the unique combination of places, people, and circumstances that sparks innovation and invention in rural communities. Inspired by an exhibition by the National Museum of American History, the exhibition features stories gathered from diverse communities across the nation. Photographs, engaging interactives, objects, videos, and augmented reality bring a multilayered experience to reveal the leaders, challenges, successes, and future of innovation in each town.

Spark! Places of Innovation will be the springboard for diverse local programming in the humanities, sciences, and arts. Visitors will be inspired to learn about innovation has shaped their own communities and how they may be innovators themselves. Community members will come together in conversation about their history, present, and future.

Spark! Places of Innovation

Schedule

June 15 – July 27, 2024
Colleton Museum & Farmers Market
506 E Washington St
Walterboro SC 29488
www.colletonmuseum.org
843-549-2303

August 3 – September 11, 2024
The Museum – Greenwood
106 Main St N
Greenwood SC 29646
www.greenwoodmuseum.org
864-229-7093

September 21 – November 2, 2024
Marlboro County Museum
123 S Marlboro St
Bennettsville SC 29512
marlboromuseum.com
843-479-5624

November 9, 2024 – January 4, 2025
City of Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum
406 Park Ave SE
Aiken SC 29801
aikenrailroaddepot.org
803-293-7846

January 11 – February 22, 2025
Gaffney Visitors Center and Art Gallery
210 W Frederick St
Gaffney SC 29341
getintogaffney.com
864-487-6244

March 1 – April 12, 2025
Belton Area Museum Association
100 N Main St
Belton SC 29627
beltonmuseum.com
864-338-7400

Spark! Places of Innovation has been made possible in South Carolina by South Carolina Humanities.

Spark! Places of Innovation is part of 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.

Smithsonian

South Carolina Humanities has received generous support for the South Carolina tour of Spark! Places of Innovation from The Self Family Foundation.