The Smoky Hill Museum is ready host “Americans”, a new Smithsonian traveling exhibition touring the nation.

According to the Museum, based on an exhibition of the same name at the National Museum of the American Indian and curated by Paul Chaat Smith (Comanche) and Cécile R. Ganteaume, the “Americans” exhibition uncovers the many ways American Indian images, names, and stories have been part of the nation’s identity since before the country began.

American Indians are less than one percent of the population, yet images of American Indians are everywhere. From imagery on commercial products and professional and high school sports mascots, to classic Westerns and episodes of “Seinfeld” and “South Park”, we are surrounded by American Indian imagery. American Indian names are everywhere, too, from state, city, and street names to the Tomahawk missile.

“Americans” uses historical photographs and objects representative of those in the Smithsonian’s collection to tell their stories and it explores the lasting legacies of Pocahontas, the 1830 Indian Removal Act, and the 1876 Battle of Little Big Horn.

In addition, “The “Americans” tour provides an opportunity for Kansans to tell their stories alongside a dynamic national exhibition from the Smithsonian,” said Julie Mulvihill, Humanities Kansas executive director. At the Smoky Hill Museum, they will be telling the story of the “Battle of Indian Rock”  in conjunction with “Americans”.

The Smithsonian exhibition comes to Kansas through an exclusive partnership between Humanities Kansas and the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program.

“Americans” opens on Saturday in Salina, and will be at the Smoky Hill Museum through April 5th.