Spark! Places of Innovation – Traveling Smithsonian Exhibit to Visit Person County Museum of History
Rural communities, like Roxboro and Person County, have a long history of seeking out innovative ways to solve problems and address challenges. Often, these places are up against restraints due to access, lack of funding, or small populations working to solve big problems. From Jan. 21 until Feb. 21, 2026, the Person County Museum of History will host a traveling Smithsonian Exhibit that explores rural innovation.
According to exhibit developers at the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, “Spark! Places of Innovation highlights how innovation in rural America has shaped small towns across the country from the perspective of the people who have lived it. The exhibition features stories and images from over 30 communities across the nation gathered through a crowdsourcing initiative. The exhibition is organized into four different categories of innovation: social, artistic, technological and cultural. Through photographs, hands-on interactives, objects, and videos, Spark! reveals the leaders, challenges, successes, and future of innovation in each featured town.”
During its tenure in Person County, the exhibit will be open free to the public during normal museum hours and on special dates to be announced. Field trips and group tours of the exhibit can be arranged by emailing personcountymuseumofhistory@gmail.com.
In addition to the national exhibit, the Person County Museum of History will host its own exhibit, Igniting the Spark: Innovation and Invention in Person County. This exhibit is made possible with funding provided by North Carolina Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information visit https://www.pcmuseumnc.org/spark-smithsonian-exhibit.
309 N. Main Street
Roxboro, NC 27573
(336) 597-2884
PersonCountyMuseumOfHistory@gmail.com
www.PCMuseumNC.org
