Some came, some stayed and others were just passing through. That is the story of westward migration in America. Today, the way people come and go in America has become far more complex.
A traveling museum exhibition that began at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., is coming to the Wood River Valley this fall. It will tell the story of people on the move across America, where they came from and how they got here.
Local storytellers are invited to participate in "Journey Stories," which will be based at the Blaine County Historical Museum from Sept. 3 through Oct. 16. The show will feature installations of the Oregon Trail, railroads, automobile and modern air travel, and, it is hoped, quite a few stories from locals about how they came to the Wood River Valley.
Exhibition organizer Bob Macleod of Hailey said the "Journey Stories" exhibition will feature local stories alongside presentations about Native Americans, slaves, pilgrims and other groups, how they interacted, and how they got around. The exhibition will be housed at the museum on Main Street in Hailey, but several other institutions are participating in the show during the next two months.
Macleod said the museum has about 20 local stories now. He said people can send stories of at least 100 words or more with a picture.
"Journey Stories" will include events at other sites in the Wood River Valley.
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The Heritage and Ski Museum in Ketchum will feature an ongoing presentation on the Griffith Family, celebrating five generations of a Wood River Valley family, in September and October.
On Sept. 7 at 7 p.m., Gary Eller and the Idaho song project will appear at the Masonic Lodge in Hailey at Second Avenue and Bullion Street.
The Hailey Public Library will host Diane Peavey on Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. She will talk about her "Urban to Rural" move to Idaho. Posters promoting the exhibition will be also shown at the Blaine County Recreation District's Aug. 28 Ride the Rails tour.
During the Wagon Days Labor Day celebration, Ivan Swaner will speak on Sept. 1 at Ketchum City Hall at 7 p.m., finishing at the Big Hitch Museum nearby. Swaner will also speak at Starbucks on Oct. 10 about mining in the valley during the Trailing of the Sheep Festival.
"The Smithsonian urges us to reach out and tie into different parts of the community," Macleod said.
He said the museum is looking for volunteer docents to work while the exhibition is on display.
For more information, call the Blaine County Museum at 788-1801 or Macleod at 788-4210.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., is bringing a traveling exhibition to the Wood River Valley. Courtesy photo
