Americans

The Smithsonian is coming to Kansas!

Humanities Kansas is bringing Americans, a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition to Kansas for an exclusive tour August 2025 – July 2026.

Americans is based on the exhibition of the same name currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). Curated by Paul Chaat Smith (Comanche) and Cécile R. Ganteaume, the exhibit uncovers the many ways American Indian images, names, and stories have been part of the nation’s identity since before the country began.

 

See the Americans Smithsonian Exhibition at Seven Kansas Locations in 2025 and 2026:

Lawrence
August 23 – October 5, 2025  
Cultural Center and Museum, Haskell Indian Nations University

Highland
October 11 – November 16, 2025
Iowa and Sac and Fox Mission Museum

Wichita
November 22, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Mid-America All-Indian Museum

Mayetta
January 10 – February 22, 2026
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation

Salina
February 28 – April 5, 2026 
Smoky Hill Museum

Liberal
April 11 – May 24, 2026
Seward County Community College

Bonner Springs
May 30 – July 5, 2026
Wyandotte County Historical Museum

 

10 Americans Partners Offer More Opportunities to Explore

In addition to the Smithsonian host locations, Humanities Kansas is collaborating with 10 partners across the state to create original local exhibitions and events exploring the themes of the Americans exhibition.

• Ashland City Library
• Ellis County Historical Society Museum, Hays
• Kansas Oil Museum, El Dorado
• Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm, Olathe
• Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum, Chanute
• Museum of Deaf History, Arts, and Culture, Olathe
• NOTO Arts Center, Topeka
• Coronado Quivira Museum, Lyons
• El Quartelejo Museum, Scott City
• Wabaunsee County Historical Society and Museum, Alma

 

About Americans​ 

Images of American Indians are everywhere, from the Land O’Lakes butter maiden to classic​ Westerns and cartoons. American Indian names are everywhere, too, from states and cities to street names. Beyond these images and names are familiar historical events and stories—Thanksgiving, Pocahontas, the Trail of Tears and Battle of Little Bighorn—that continue to speak ​to the collective imagination.

Americans offers a new way of understanding familiar events and images. Using historical photographs and objects from the Smithsonian's collection, the exhibition offers an optimistic and provocative way to understand America's past and present, reminding us that American Indians are an integral part of our nation's history, culture, and identity.

The information above is provided by the Smithsonian Institution. More information about the Americans exhibition can be found here.

Humanities Kansas is working with representatives from tribal leadership and the Indigenous communities to bring this exciting exhibit to Kansas.

Newsroom

 

Questions? Contact Abigail Kaup, Program Officer, at abigail@humanitieskansas.org or (785) 357-0359.

Host and Partner Site Resources

 

Americans is part of Museum on Main Street (MoMS), a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and Humanities Kansas to bring high-quality traveling exhibitions, educational resources, and programming primarily to small and rural communities in partnership with their local museums, historical societies, and other cultural venues. The exhibitions are designed to engage communities and spark conversations.