Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is now open to the public at the Prindle Institute for Ethics. The Smithsonian traveling exhibition asks how Americans have fought for, argued over and practiced self-government, from the Revolution to today.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for opening weekend. Now we hope you’ll come see it for yourself.

The exhibit traces the long American experiment in democracy through objects, images and stories, and it invites visitors to add their own voices along the way. A local companion exhibit, Disagreement and Democracy, brings that story home to Putnam County. It looks at some of the community’s biggest debates, from temperance to school consolidation to the departure of IBM. Volunteer docents are on hand during open hours to welcome visitors and help start conversations.

Voices and Votes comes to Greencastle through a partnership of the Prindle Institute and the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, with support from Indiana Humanities and the Putnam County Community Foundation. Our community partners are the Putnam County Museum and the Putnam County Public Library.

Programs for all ages

A full slate of free programs runs alongside the exhibit. On Oct. 16, Movie Night features “The Librarians.” On Oct. 21, Dinner and Democracy with Lindsey Cormack offers an evening of food and conversation. Families can join Story Hour on Oct. 20 and Oct. 27 for read-alouds of “If a Bus Could Talk” and “Hansel and Gretel.”

On Election Night, Nov. 3, we’ll host an Election Results Watch Party from 6 to 9 p.m. The Adult Book Club meets Nov. 10 to discuss “The Women of the Copper Country,” and Movie Night returns Nov. 13 with “You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown.”

See the full Voices and Votes calendar.

Plan your visit

Voices and Votes is free and open to the public through Nov. 20 at the Prindle Institute for Ethics, 2961 W County Road 225 S, Greencastle.

• Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Monday and Thursday evenings, 4-7 p.m.
• Saturday, noon-4 p.m.

Come explore, bring a friend and add your voice. Learn more at prindleinstitute.org/voices.