“Innovation in Rural America” from the Smithsonian Institution

The Ohio River Visitor Center in Equality will be hosting the mobile exhibit “Innovation in Rural America” from the Smithsonian Institution from June 17—July 21, 2023.

Fridays——–3-7 PM,

Saturdays—-Noon-7 PM,

Sundays——Noon-3 PM

The Smithsonian Museum describes the exhibit as:          “The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. People are problem- solvers. Sometimes we invent. More often, we innovate—we introduce a fresh idea or an invention into use in some way that creates a new way of doing or thinking.

Invention can happen anywhere and it’s happening right now in small towns across America. Rural Americans are creating new products, taking risks, meeting challenges together, and seizing upon exciting opportunities that change local life and sometimes reach far beyond.”

The Village of Equality has been chosen (Free Lectures on Sunday 3:00-4:00)
as an example of an innovative rural community by the Smithsonian Institution and is featured in its traveling exhibit for 2023.
The free exhibit will be in Equality at the Ohio River Visitors Center from June 17-July 22 and will feature Equality’s first innovation, salt production.
Come enjoy a day in historic Equality !    See the SPARK Exhibition.
Enjoy a meal at the Red Onion—–Thur 11-8, Fri & Sat 11-9, Sun 11-3
Shop in our unique boutiques:
Salt Threads——————————Thur 11-4, Fri & Sat 11-8, Sun 12-2
276 Art Exchange———————–Fri 4-7 Sat 12-7 Sun 12-3
Dusty Attic——————————–Tue-Sat 10-5
Come on Sunday to enjoy free public lectures on topics related to the history of the salt industry:
Lecture Series:
June 18—3:00 pm “Legends and Lore of the Gallatin Salines & the Crenshaw House”
-Todd Carr, Local historian and author
The Crenshaw Mansion, operated for many years as the tourist attraction, the “Old Slave House,” has
long been a source of local folklore and fascination. Described as one of the “Most Haunted Houses in
America”, the building served as home to John Hart Crenshaw, operator of the saltworks and allegedly a
player in the reverse Underground Railroad. Historian and author, Todd Carr, will share some of these
stories with us.
June 25—3:00 pm “Archeological Investigations in the Gallatin Salines & the Crenshaw House”
-Mary McCorvie & Mark Wagner, archeologists involved in excavations at the Great Salt Spring and at the
Crenshaw House Both the Crenshaw House—home to the operator of the saltworks—and the salt spring
itself and been excavated in separate archeological investigations. Come, hear from the archeologists
involved in that research what science reveals about the facts behind the legends.
July 9—3:00 pm “Native Americans and Salt Springs in Gallatin County”
-Heather Carey, US Forest Service archeologist
Use of the Great Salt Spring and other nearby saline springs in Gallatin County was an important
activity for Native American groups for thousands of years. This presentation will further explore the
different Native groups that used the area and what archaeological investigations and archival research
has revealed about the site.
July 16—3:00 pm “Did Black Lives Matter in Early Illinois? Voices from the Brink of Slavery and Freedom”
-Caroline Kisiel, IL Humanities Roads Scholar
In 1818, Illinois entered the United States with a Constitution declaring itself a free state, following the
guidance of the 1787 Northwest Ordinance, which outlawed slavery north of the Ohio River. But
slavery’s roots went back centuries in the region, and its hold on the young state was strong. In the first
years of statehood, the Illinois legislature included a number of proslavery advocates who made a bold
attempt to change the Constitution to allow slavery. They had already succeeded in building in limited
slavery clauses into the 1818 Constitution which were to sunset in 1825, and they now wished to
expand this foothold. Others vehemently fought against them, ultimately prevailing to preserve the
free state.
Exhibit——101 W Lane Street
Lectures—-155 W Lane Street
Equality IL 62934