SPARK! at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore
SPARK! Places of Innovation explores the unique combination of places, people, and circumstances that sparks innovation and invention in rural communities. The SPARK! tour will visit six communities in different regions throughout Maryland from May 17, 2025 to March, 2026 and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is the last stop!
The exhibit's display at the Frederick Douglass Library has been extended past its original March 1st deadline. Stay tuned for an updated date! In the meantime, visit the exhibit while it's still there!
Selected sites will host the Smithsonian exhibit, work with local partners in their community, and create additional programming to support the exhibit. UMES and its partners are hard at work creating companion programming! Check back regularly for updates.
SPARK! has been made possible in the state by Maryland Humanities. SPARK! is part of the Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.
The exhibit's display at the Frederick Douglass Library has been extended past its original March 1st deadline. Stay tuned for an updated date! In the meantime, visit the exhibit while it's still there!
Selected sites will host the Smithsonian exhibit, work with local partners in their community, and create additional programming to support the exhibit. UMES and its partners are hard at work creating companion programming! Check back regularly for updates.
SPARK! has been made possible in the state by Maryland Humanities. SPARK! is part of the Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.
Exhibit Hours:
The SPARK! exhibit will be open to the public during library hours. Hours are subject to change due to inclement weather and other factors. See the table below for normal hours of operation. For updates on hours, see the library website.
Day |
Spring Semester Hours |
Monday-Thursday |
7:30am - 10:00pm |
Friday |
7:30am - 5pm |
Saturday |
10:00am - 4:00pm |
Sunday |
3:00pm - 10:00pm |
Events & Programming:
Programming for SPARK! Places of Innovation will occur throughout the exhibit's stay at UMES and beyond so keep an eye out for all sorts of programs from workshops to lectures!
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SPARK! Exhibit at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore | January 17, 2026 - TBD
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Companion Exhibits:
Revolutionary Maryland: Freedom of the Press Then and Now
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Revolutionary Maryland: Freedom of the Press Then and Now is a traveling exhibit by Maryland Humanities that explores the evolution of a core American principle from the colonial period to the present.
This is part of a multi-pronged project created to foster civic engagement and reflection upon the roles of a free press in democracy. This traveling exhibit will rotate through eight different locations in Maryland over the course of 2026. Revolutionary Maryland: Freedom of the Press Then and Now will be at the Museum of Eastern Shore Culture from January 17th through the end of March. Visit the exhibit during museum hours. Tuesday – Saturday from 11am – 4pm. |
History, Heritage and Homelands Interpretive Panels
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Previews of the Beach to Bay Heritage Area's interpretive signs for History, Heritage & Homelands of Maryland's Lower Shore are at the Frederick Douglass Library show casing this innovative project.
Dubbed the most comprehensive guide to Native American heritage to date, History, Heritage & Homelands delves into the history of the first people that called Maryland's lower shore home. It took an existing product created over 30 years ago, and completely reworked it from the ground up. The end result was a more authentic and culturally accurate guide to Native American culture. Created in collaboration with the Pocomoke Indian Nation, this self guided journey takes explorers through the historic homelands of the Assateague and Pocomoke People, demonstrating their historic connection to the land and our history. |
