Voices & Votes: Democracy in America
The exhibit will tour six Missouri communities from April 2025 to January 2026.
Missouri Humanities is excited to host a special tour of Voices & Votes: Democracy in America, an exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution. Developed as part of the Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program, this exhibit is designed especially for small cultural organizations and rural audiences that lack regular access to traveling exhibitions due to space and cost limitations. In 1900, about 40% of Americans lived in rural areas. By 2010, less than 18% of the U.S. population lived in rural areas. In just over a century, massive economic and social changed moved millions of Americans into urban areas. Yet, only 10% of the U.S. landmass is considered urban.
Voices & Votes: Democracy in America explores the foundational principles of American democracy, tracing its roots from the country’s beginnings and examining key questions that continue to shape our nation today: Who has the right to vote? What are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens? Whose voices will be heard? This exhibit serves as a springboard for vital discussions about these issues, reflecting our local stories and experiences.
Sites & Dates
Click the town name to learn more about each site
- Maryville (Nodaway County), MO
- Nodaway Community Theater Company | April 23, 2025 – June 4, 2025
- Sikeston (Scott County), MO
- Malone Park Center for the Arts | June 10, 2025 – July 22, 2025
- Neosho (Newton County), MO
- Crowder College/Social Science Division | July 28, 2025 – September 8, 2025
- Memphis (Scotland County), MO
- Northeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission | September 14, 2025 – October 26, 2025
- Grain Valley (Jackson County), MO
- Grain Valley Historical Society | November 1, 2025 – December 13, 2025
- Washington (Franklin County), MO
- Washington Public Library | December 19, 2025 – January 30, 2026
Meet Dr. Lily Santoro
She's an Associate Teaching Professor at the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy & Department of History at Mizzou. Dr. Santoro is our Voices & Votes scholar, collaborating with local organizers to create unique exhibitions and activities that highlight each town's rich history. She brings a wealth of experience as a project archivist, collections assistant, and exhibit curator. Currently, she’s leading a student-research team to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence with oral histories, digital projects, and exhibits. Dr. Santoro is also the head of the Southeast Missouri History Gateway, a digital project helping cultural institutions share their archival treasures. Dr. Santoro holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in American History from the University of Delaware and a B.A. in History from USC, along with certificates in Museum Studies and Digital Archives & Records Management.
