Press Release
February 3, 2020
Contact: Jennie Buchanan
Museum of the Western Prairie, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 580-482-1044
jbuchanan@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/westernprairie
“Water/Ways” Traveling Exhibition at Museum of the Western Prairie
ALTUS, Okla. — The Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus will host “Water/Ways,” a Smithsonian Institution Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition, from February 18 to April 11, 2020. This exhibition is made possible by a grant from Oklahoma Humanities.
Water is an important element in American culture. People are drawn to water for peace and contemplation. The sights and sounds of water make those who experience them feel connected to nature. Many faiths revere water as a sacred symbol. Authors and artists are inspired by the graceful ways in which water flows, but also by its unstoppable force.
Water has also played a vital role in society. Water routes made significant impacts on settlement and migration patterns. Humans use it for manufacturing and agriculture and economic planning. “Water/Ways” examines the many ways in which water is used and how it can be sustained for the future.
“Water/Ways” is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and Oklahoma Humanities, and was adapted from an exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York.
For more information, please call 580-482-1044. The Museum of the Western Prairie is located at 1100 Memorial Drive in Altus.
About Oklahoma Humanities:
The mission of Oklahoma Humanities (OH) is to strengthen communities by helping Oklahomans learn about the human experience, understand new perspectives, and participate knowledgeably in civic life. OH is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, we strive to stimulate discussion, encourage new perspectives, and to actively engage people in the humanities disciplines, such as history, literature, philosophy, and ethics.
The Museum of the Western Prairie is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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