"Memories in the Current" Exhibit

The Library of Congress (LoC) in partnership with Eastern Oklahoma Library System opened “Memories in the Current” at the Muskogee Public Library on May 16, 2026. Inspired by the geography and storytellers of Green Country, the digital experience is designed for Northeastern Oklahoma community members to reflect and connect with each other using historical voices from the Library of Congress archive. Library of Congress staff used community memories of the local waterways to identify almost 800 similar accounts from letters, diaries, oral histories, and books of historic figures from within the Library’s digital collections. “Memories in the Current” visitors can browse memory matches and submit their own to flow down a digital simulation of the Neosho, Arkansas or Verdigris rivers that intersect just to the north of Muskogee. Inspired by maps, photographs and poetry from the area on loc.gov, Eastern Oklahoma Public Library system staff designed a custom exhibit of Library of Congress items to accompany the projection-piece, as well as a digital map of community-contributed photos from events and festivals around the area to celebrate the diverse local culture. The Memories in the Current exhibit is open to the public through May 2027. The exhibit is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.