By Krista Duhon

news@joplinglobe.com

MIAMI, Okla. — Patrons of the Miami Public Library can journey through history today.

The library, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Humanities Council, is featuring “Journey Stories,” a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit that explores the mobile nature of Americans — why they move, how they move and what that says about them. The exhibit will be on display through Dec. 30.

“We were thrilled to be selected,” said Marcia Johnson, library director.

“Journey Stories” uses images, audio and artifacts to tell individual stories that illustrate the role travel and movement have played in building American society. It includes accounts of immigrants; stories about individuals and families relocating in search of fortune, homesteads or employment; the forced journeys of African-Americans and Native Americans; and the fun and frolic on the open road.

“Many rural town residents never get the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., and tour the Smithsonian. This project brings the Smithsonian to them,” Johnson said. “This exhibit will focus residents on journey stories, stories of how our ancestors came to this country, but also stories about our own life journeys. After viewing this exhibit and participating in the other programs, they should come away with a new appreciation not only for the history of our ancestors, but also for the value of their own journey stories.”

A number of public programs with ties to the area will be offered in conjunction with the exhibit, including presentations about Route 66 and tribal and mining journeys.

Johnson said the grand finale will be “Our Journey Stories,” a video of interviews with people in the community who talk about the journeys taken by their own families.

Miami’s participation in the project is the result of efforts of the Miami Arts and Humanities Council, which began working more than a year ago to bring the Smithsonian exhibit to Northeast Oklahoma.

Learn more

Affiliated programs to be held in conjunction with “Journey Stories” include:

n Nov. 24: “Bones of the Old Road,” a documentary film about Route 66, at 7 p.m. at the Coleman Theatre.

n Nov. 30: Mike Klemme, “Celebrating Route 66 in Pictures,” 6:30 p.m., Miami Public Library. Klemme was the official photographer of the Oklahoma Centennial. He will talk about taking photographs along Route 66.

n Dec. 7: “Mining Journey Stories” at 6:30 p.m. at the Miami Public Library. Local people will talk about those who moved here in connection with mining.