Voices and Votes exhibit explores U.S. democracy across Indiana INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibit focused on American democracy is visiting seven small towns across Indiana over the next year. The tour, titled “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” is part of the upcoming 250th anniversary celebration of the United States. Indiana Humanities has selected 7 sites for the exhibit. It is part of the Smithsonian Museum’s Museum on Main Street program. The collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils is designed to bring museum-quality historical resources to rural areas, allowing residents to engage with the curated content without traveling to Washington. The exhibit features photos, interactive displays, archival footage, and games. These components explore questions regarding civic duties and freedoms that have persisted since the founding of the United States. Anna Bowman with Indiana Humanities described the collection as a “conversation starter” intended to encourage neighbors to discuss civic responsibility and what it means to be an American. “Voices and Votes has photos, interactive exhibits, and it has some archival footage and different games that explore the same questions that our founders were pondering back 250 years ago,” Bowman said. Each host site integrates local history into the broader national narrative. The exhibit’s first Indiana stop is Angola, where the display includes political memorabilia and campaign buttons that highlight the specific political history of the town. “What’s really exciting about this exhibit is that each site that hosts it, Angola, French Lick, they all get to do a local component to the exhibit that they’re adding to the experience,” Bowman said. Organizers selected the host locations to ensure most people are within an hour and a half of a tour stop. Bowman noted that the timing aligns with the national anniversary and upcoming elections. “I think we want people to be thinking about, you know, what does it mean to be civically engaged and get out to vote?” Bowman said. “What does it mean to learn across differences? I think that’s really important right now, especially because it’s the 250th.” Here’s where you can see the Voices and Votes exhibit: March 28-May 10, 2026: City of Angola (Angola) May 16-June 28, 2026: Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau (French Lick) July 4-Aug. 16, 2026: Rush County Arts and Cultural Council (Rushville) Aug. 22-Oct. 4, 2026: Upland Historical Society (Upland) Oct. 10-Nov. 20, 2026: The Prindle Institute for Ethics at DePauw University + Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (Greencastle) Nov. 28, 2026-Jan. 10, 2027: Jennings County Historical Society (Vernon) Jan. 30-March 14, 2027: Whitley County Community Foundation (Columbia City) Learn more about the exhibit on the Voices and Votes program page. ...read more read less