By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

MARION — The Alabama Humanities Foundation and the Smithsonian Institute are teaming up to bring an exhibit to the area that will show how America went from a small nation to the transportation juggernaut it is today.

The Alabama Humanities Foundation, in collaboration with the Smithsonian, opened its Museum on Main Street exhibit, Journey Stories, Wednesday in Marion.

“It’s basically a project that gives rural museums a chance to bring in a Smithsonian-caliber exhibition,” said Jennifer Dome, public relations manager with the Alabama Humanities Foundation. “The great thing about the Journey Stories exhibit is it examines the way Americans move, and that can be anything from our ancestors immigrating to this country long ago, the move westward to search for gold, but it also includes transportation and the invention of the automobile, airplane and the building of the highway system and railroads.”

Journey Stories will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and will run through Nov. 10 at the Old Marion Train Depot, located at 1200 Washington St. in Marion.

Admission to the exhibit is free.

Dome said the exhibit is a good chance for people to see how local history ties in to the nation’s history.

“I think people will enjoy this exhibit because it’s an exhibit from the Smithsonian, which is rare to see in a small town in Alabama,” Dome said. “But the town of Marion and the area also contributed it’s own part of the exhibit, so you can get to see the history of your own town and your own state in conjunction with the national story that we’re all tied to.”