Bandera is proud to be one of only seven towns in Texas selected to host the 2024–2025 traveling Smithsonian exhibit, Crossroads: Change in Rural America. This unique opportunity brings a national spotlight to our community’s heritage and story.
The exhibit, running from June 21 to July 26, 2025, will be located at the Bandera Middle School Cafetorium, 1005 Cherry Street, Bandera, TX. It offers a powerful platform for rural communities to engage with their past, examine present challenges, and envision future possibilities.
Through this exhibit, Bandera has developed a series of local displays that highlight the evolution of rural life and honor the stories that define our community. The themes guiding the Smithsonian exhibit—Identity, Land, Community, Persistence, and Change—also inspired our locally created exhibits:
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Bandera Electric Cooperative – Rural Electrification
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Stompede Days & The Free State of Bandera
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Schoolhouse Memories – Bandera’s Historic Schools
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100 Years of Rodeo in Bandera
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Living Off the Land – From Ranchers to Travelers
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Dudes, Dances & Delights – Bandera: Birthplace of Texas Dude Ranches
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Tejano Son of Texas – Policarpio Rodriguez
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Bandera’s Music History
The Crossroads exhibit reflects on the vital role of agriculture and rural communities and how they have transformed over the last century. Interactive components such as “Think About It,” “Let’s Talk,” “Let’s Watch,” “Let’s Listen,” and “Get Interactive” invite visitors to engage deeply with the material, fostering reflection and dialogue on the future of rural America.
Bandera’s participation in this Smithsonian project is not just an honor—it’s a celebration of our identity, resilience, and the rich stories that shape who we are today.