Organizers told the Aransas County Commissioners Court that the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit Crossroads: Change in Rural America will open Jan. 25 at Rockport’s new community center, accompanied by a weekslong slate of programs across local partners in the Coastal Bend.

Jennifer Day, an organizer and local lead for the project, said the exhibit will be open every day for six weeks and that Aransas County will be listed as one of the sponsors. “We will be open every day of the week for 6 weeks,” Day said, describing partner sites, bus and train shuttles for weekend visitors and a “Passport to the Pass” program that connects multiple venues.

Why it matters: organizers said the exhibit is intended to attract visitors across the Coastal Bend, magnify local economic activity and highlight regional history that is not fully covered in the Smithsonian panels. The exhibit’s opening will coincide with the ribbon-cutting for the new community center.

Programming and partners: Day and other presenters described partnerships that include the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Aransas County Historical Society, Texas A&M representatives, the Texas Maritime Museum, the Fulton Schoolhouse Museum, Goose Island State Park and museums in neighboring towns. The opening event will feature speakers and cultural performances; organizers listed U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud (or a representative), state and local officials, and a Vietnamese New Year cultural performance among planned attractions.

Local contributions and logistics: Day said the Rockport Cultural District and the City of Rockport helped secure funding and that organizers had arranged bus service each Saturday (except the first Saturday) to bring groups to the Taft Blackwood Museum, a passenger “train” shuttle from the railroad museum and food concessions. Volunteers and a printed/digital guide will help visitors move between venues.

Community context: longtime resident and volunteer Barb Wales said community artifacts — including a Model T and other period items — will be displayed with precautions to protect the venue’s new surfaces.

County action: the presentation was informational; commissioners did not take a formal vote on the exhibit at this meeting. Several commissioners commended the volunteers and partners for the work to host the exhibit locally.

What’s next: organizers asked for volunteers and noted planned programming; the exhibit’s opening and related community events are scheduled to begin Jan. 25 at the new Aransas County Community Center.