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The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is now accepting applications from host communities for the Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition program.

Created in 1994, Museum on Main Street (MoMS) is part of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) division, which aims to engage small-town audiences and revitalize underserved rural communities. The THC Heritage Tourism Program will serve as the MoMS state partner organization, coordinate the Texas tour, and facilitate an extensive training plan that consists of exhibitions training, event and product development, community collaboration, marketing, fundraising, and more.

The upcoming 2024–2025 MoMS tour will feature Crossroads: Change in Rural America, which examines the impacts of the population shift from rural to urban areas in the U.S. during the last century, as well as the importance of preserving small towns for their unique culture, history, and economic revitalization opportunities.

Six rural communities around the state will be selected to host the exhibition for six weeks each. Host communities will receive up to two years of training and consultation from THC staff to prepare the local heritage tourism landscape for the arrival of the exhibition and the thousands of visitors it will attract.

A variety of community-based organizations are encouraged to apply, including museums, Main Street cities, tourism organizations, libraries, and other organizations that are interested in transforming their local heritage into an economic boon for their community. Cities with a population of fifteen thousand or less are eligible to apply. Communities exceeding that population should inquire directly with the THC's Heritage Tourism team before applying.

To learn more and apply to be a host community, contact the Texas Historical Commission. Applications are now open and will be accepted through May 15, 2023.