The Library of Congress has launched a new traveling exhibition to bring facsimiles of many of its top treasures and information about the millions of resources in its unparalleled collections to the heartland of America. Dubbed “Gateway to Knowledge,” the traveling display set out on an 18-wheel truck in September from the National Book Festival on the National Mall, for sites in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Over the next year, the exhibition is expected to visit up to 60 sites in states across the Midwest and South.
The truck, which is staffed and driven by two docents well-versed in the Library and its collections, will be parked at various schools, libraries, community centers and other public venues. Its programming is of special interest to teachers and students, as well as lifelong learners.
The exhibition was the idea of philanthropists Abby and Emily Rapoport, the granddaughters of Audre and Bernie Rapoport, founding members of the Library’s private-sector support organization, The James Madison Council. The young Rapoports have donated $1 million to the Library to make the “Gateway to Knowledge” exhibition possible and bring the Library’s riches to areas of the nation—particularly rural areas—that may not be aware of their access to the wealth of information in this publicly funded institution.
- National Book Festival, Washington, D.C.
- Museum of Shenandoah Valley, Winchester, Va.
- Canal Parkway, Cumberland, Md.
- Culture Center, Charleston, W.Va.
- Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio
- Twinsburg Public Library, Twinsburg, Ohio
- Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio
- Hobart Arena, Troy, Ohio
- Plainfield High School, Plainfield, Ind.
- Anderson Public Library, Anderson, Ind.
- Washington District Library, Washington, Ill.
- Grinnell College, Grinnell, Ohio
- Waterloo Public Library, Waterloo, Iowa
- Southbridge Mall, Mason City, Iowa
- Mankato East Junior High, Mankato, Minn.
- Willmar Fire Hall, Willmar, Minn.
- Brainerd City Hall, Brainerd, Minn.
- Oakwood Mall, Eau Claire, Wis.
- Fond du Lac High School, Fond du Lac, Wis.
- Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, Wis.
