Coming to Kentucky in 2025

August 23, 2025 – September 27, 2025: River Discovery Center, Paducah

October 4, 2025 – November 15, 2025: Muhlenberg County Public Library, Greenville

November 22, 2025 – January 3, 2026: Hickman County Memorial Library, Clinton

January 10, 2026 – February 21, 2026: Henderson County Public Library, Henderson

February 28, 2026 – April 11, 2026: Carroll County Public Library, Carrollton

April 18, 2026 – May 23, 2026: Woodford County Library, Versailles

May 30, 2026 – July 5, 2026: Highlands Museum and Discovery Center, Ashland

 

For questions or information, please contact Derek Beaven at derek.beaven@uky.edu or (859) 257-5932.

About the Exhibit 

Based on a major exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., Americans explores the deeply entangled history that Americans and American Indians share.

American Indians are less than 1 percent of the population, yet images of Indians are everywhere. From imagery on commercial products and professional and high school sports mascots, to classic Westerns, we are surrounded by American Indian imagery. Indian names are everywhere too, from state, city, and street names to the Tomahawk missile.

Americans highlights four major historical events and presents what has been remembered, contested, cherished, and denied, and shows why each event still resonates.

The exhibition provides a great opportunity for host organizations to explore how the history of American Indians in their areas are incorporated into local stories. Are American Indian stories revered in your community? Or are those connections misunderstood or misused? How much of your community’s celebrated places, street names, local businesses, cultural icons and people have connections to American Indian stories? With support from state humanities councils and other state partners, Americans provides an interesting chance to generate relationships and conversations with local American Indian groups and organizations.
 
For more information, click the Americans link below.

Thank you to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for moving Americans across the state for all Kentuckians to enjoy!