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About

Museum on Main Street brings the Smithsonian to small-town America with a focus on storytelling and celebration of each community's local heritage.
Since 1994, We have visited over 1,400 communities with an average population of 8,000. Our exhibits have touched the lives of thousands just like you.
In towns across America – probably one near you – there's a Museum on Main Street exhibition at a local library or community center!

About Museum on Main Street

Museum on Main Street (MoMS) is a Smithsonian outreach program that engages small town audiences and brings revitalized attention to underserved rural communities.  We partner with state humanities councils to bring traveling exhibitions, educational resources and programming to small towns across America through their own local museums, historical societies and other cultural venues.

Our exhibitions are designed to engage communities and become a catalyst for conversation about life in small-town America.  We want to start dialogue, build excitement, facilitate connections, and open doors to your community's history, culture, people, and sense of local pride.

Since 1994, we have visited more than 1,900 communities with a median population of 8,000. In addition, we curate and publish an online collection of community-sourced stories through our Stories from Main Street initiative.

We invite you to get involved with MoMS by visiting an exhibition near you or by submitting your story in our portal.

MoMS is part of Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and Smithsonian Affiliations (SITES | Affiliations), a unit that makes connections to create mutually beneficial reciprocal relationships among and between the Smithsonian and museums and other organizations across the country and beyond. SITES, Affiliations and MoMS expand the reach and impact of the Smithsonian and our network of collaborators, widely sharing knowledge, resources, and expertise.

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service | Smithsonian Affiliations achieved noteworthy milestones in fiscal year 2023: debuting several new exhibitions, welcoming three new Affiliates, launching season two of the Museum on Main Street's Stories from Main Street podcast, and hosting a number of interns over the summer months. Read more in the 2023 Year in Review.

MoMS Map

More About MoMS

Our Mission

MoMS is committed to serving small, rural communities.

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Our History

MoMS has been engaging rural communities across America for 28 years.

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Our Exhibitions

Exhibitions currently traveling:

  • Crossroads
  • Starter Kit: WORK
  • Voices and Votes
  • Water / Ways
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Story Programs

Read and share interesting stories.

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Have a question about MoMS?

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions