Reflections on the Water/Ways traveling exhibit in central Indiana

At the beginning of 2022, Indiana Humanities announced five additional host sites for Water/Ways, the Smithsonian-curated traveling exhibit. Water/Ways is an interactive exhibit that dives into the roles bodies of water play as cultural and physical borders, and it creates opportunities for education, conversation and advocacy around water and the role it plays in communities.  

Jane Santucci, consultant for RiverSCAPE who hosted the exhibit in Terre Haute, reflected on the experience and its impact on the community.

When asked how the Smithsonian exhibit was adapted to include Terre Haute’s community watershed story, Santucci said, “We used freshwater mussels to inform people about water quality and how much of our history comes from the Wabash River. The older generations were alive when we had an abundance of mussels, and the younger generations need to understand their importance.”

Lyndsey Blair, Indiana Humanities program associate, also shared her thoughts on the program. “I think the most exciting part of this program is the local exhibit each host site develops as a companion piece to the Smithsonian Water/Ways exhibit.” 

“These displays allow each host to explore their own community’s relationship to water and also help create local connections to the themes presented in Water/Ways.”  

Other exhibit locations in central Indiana included Centerville at the Cope Environmental Center February through April, and Benton County at the Otterbein Public Library, which is open through Dec. 11.