July 23, 2025
For Immediate Release
Office of Public Information
Crowder College
RE: Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Examining Democracy in America Coming to Crowder College
Neosho, MO – The Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street, in cooperation with Missouri
Humanities Council, presents “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America.” The exhibition
examines the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government “of, by and for the
people,” and how each generation since continues to question how to form “a more perfect
union.” Opening at the Crowder College Longwell Museum on July 28 “Voices and Votes” will be
on view through August 31. The Longwell Museum is located at 601 Laclede, Ave., Neosho, MO
64850 inside the Elsie Plaster Community Center. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday, from
9 am – 6:30 pm. It is closed on holidays.
Crowder College and the surrounding community has been chosen by the Missouri
Humanities Council to host “Voices and Votes” as part of the Museum on Main Street program—
a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural
organizations.
In addition to the exhibit, there will be additional events. On August 28 and 29 at 6pm, as
well as August 31 at 2pm, “Raise your voice,” a live music event offering music of patriotism and
protests since 1776 will take place. Then, on September 4, the History Symposium will return at
6:30 pm with a guest speaker.
This exhibit and series of events is made possible by the following local community
partners: League of Women Voters, DAR (Neosho Chapter), McDonald county Historical Society,
Newton county Historical Society, Neosho/Newton County Library, Jasper County Cemetery
Preservation Society, Newton County Cemetery Preservation Society, Crowder College
Foundation, Lee Library, Longwell Museum and Crowder Social Sciences and Fine Arts Divisions.
“Voices and Votes” explores the action, reaction, vision and revision that democracy
demands as Americans continue to question how to shape the country. From the revolution and
suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this everevolving story—the story of democracy in America. Exhibition sections explore the origins of
American democracy, the struggles to obtain and keep the vote, the machinery of democracy,
the right to petition and protest beyond the ballot and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
“We are excited to partner with Missouri Humanities Council and the Smithsonian
Institute’s Museums on Main Street Project to bring this exhibit to Neosho. As a Community
College it is important for us to take advantage of opportunities to reach beyond just our student
body,” said Dr. Denna Clymer, Crowder College Social Science Division Chair. “We are thrilled
that the community, and particularly our partner organizations, have taken such a keen interest
in bringing the Voices to Votes exhibit to Crowder, and for our part, this is a tremendous
opportunity to live out our mission of creating a Civil, Serving, Literate, Learning Community of
Responsible Citizens.”
Designed for small-town museums, libraries and cultural organizations, “Voices and
Votes” will serve as a community meeting place for conversations about democracy, the
freedoms and responsibilities of citizens, participating in government, and more. With the
support and guidance of state humanities councils, these towns will develop complementary
exhibits, host public programs and facilitate educational initiatives to raise people’s
understanding about their own history, the joys and challenges of living rural, how change has
impacted their community, and prompt discussion of goals for the future.
“Voices and Votes” is based on an exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s
National Museum of American History called American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith.
To learn more about “Voices” and other Museum on Main Street exhibitions, visit
museumonmainstreet.org. Support for MoMS has been provided by the U.S. Congress.
SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with
millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 65 years. SITES connects Americans
to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and
history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and
tour schedules, visit sites.si.edu.
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For more information, please contact the Crowder College Office of Public Information at
417.455.5540, or CindyBrown@Crowder.edu | KateDalton@Crowder.edu
The Smithsonian contact, Jennifer Schommer, may be reached at (202) 633-3121, or
schommerj@si.edu
Last Updated on July 24, 2025 by Haven Stanley