Allegany Museum hosts traveling exhibit on democracy, voting

April 22, 2021

Cumberland Times-News, April 19, 2021
by Lindsay Renner-Wood
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Frostburg State University students Jessica Thayer, left, and Max Hancock speak about the “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” traveling Smithsonian exhibit at the Allegany Museum. Image courtesy of Ken Nolan/Times-News

CUMBERLAND — A traveling exhibit that opened to the public Saturday at Allegany Museum melds local and national elements to examine the country’s history of voting and civic engagement.

The museum was selected through Maryland Humanities’ “Museums on Main Street” program to display the “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” traveling Smithsonian exhibit. Allegany County is one of five counties selected statewide to host the display in 2021.

Mary Kay Finan, image courtesy of Ken Nolan/Times-News

Maryland Humanities board member and local resident Mary Kay Finan said the museum was “lucky” to have been selected to host the display. The exhibit will remain at the museum for six weeks.

“We know that Maryland has many stories to explore, and they connect to the exhibit themes,” Finan said.

In addition to the Smithsonian display, which examines the country’s history of voting and more, companion exhibits feature the photography and political button collection of local historian Albert Feldstein. For the latter, the museum partnered with Frostburg State University, which owns Feldstein’s buttons.

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