The public is invited to attend the ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 13, to open “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” a Smithsonian Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition hosted by the Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, Cape Coral.

The exhibition is free and open to the public during regular library hours.

Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, selected and awarded funding to Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library as one of five locations to host the exhibition during its 2024-2025 Florida Tour.

“Voices and Votes” explores the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government “of, by and for the people” and the action, reaction, vision, and revision that democracy demands as Americans continue to ask and answer questions that shape the country.

The multimedia display, available to the public from Sept. 14 to Nov. 8, features historical and contemporary photos and video, engaging multimedia and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia and protest material.

The ribbon-cutting will feature brief remarks by Lee County Commissioners and other officials followed by the first look at this impressive display. In addition to the Smithsonian exhibit, the installation will include local history and artifacts courtesy of the Cape Coral Museum of History, Lawrence Kearny Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Lee County Supervisor of Elections.

“The exhibit allows us to reflect on our region’s history and explore what it means to be an active participant in the governance of not only the country but our community as well,” said Mind Simon, director of the Lee County Library System. “The library is offering a series of public events and activities for all ages through September and October to complement the exhibition and highlight its central themes of civic responsibility and engagement.”

A full calendar of events is available online at www.leelibrary.net/events. Schools and community groups are encouraged to contact the library to schedule exhibit tours, as guides and special activities may be available during their visit.

“Voices and Votes,” based on an exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History called “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith,” is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. To learn more visit museumonmainstreet.org, sites.si.edu, or Florida Humanities. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U.S. Congress.

Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U.S. Congress.