See the Exhibit in Snyder
Snyder is a West Texas community shaped by resourcefulness, reinvention, and a willingness to think differently. From its early ranching and agricultural roots to the energy industries that transformed the region, generations of residents have found new ways to build opportunity on the wide-open plains of Scurry County. Today, that same creative spirit can be seen in a community investing in its downtown, strengthening connections with local education and industry, and finding fresh ways to celebrate the people and stories that make Snyder distinctive. With the arrival of the Spark! Places of Innovation exhibition, Snyder invites visitors to discover how collaboration, ingenuity, and a strong sense of community continue to inspire what comes next.
See the exhibit in Snyder from October 3 through November 15, 2026.
Next Stop: Brackettville/Fort Clark Springs, TX
The Smithsonian's national traveling exhibit, Spark! Places of Innovation, will be travelling to six small towns spread across Texas.
To catch the exhibit when it's in your neck of the woods, check out other dates and locations by visiting our main exhibit page.
Community Host
Housed in a landmark that has entertained Snyder for more than a century, Spark! Places of Innovation offers visitors the opportunity to experience the exhibition in a place with its own remarkable story of change and reinvention. The theatre traces its history to 1916, when a Snyder Signal naming contest christened the early movie house “The Reel.” Later known as The Cozy, it presented movies, traveling shows, and other entertainment before being rebuilt and reopened as The Ritz in 1950, just as Snyder’s oil boom was transforming the community. The theatre became a fixture of downtown life, and oral histories even recall oil-field workers sleeping in its balcony when housing was scarce during the boom.
After the movie theatre eventually closed, the building deteriorated until a community-led effort gave it a new purpose. Restoration began in the 1990s, including the return of its familiar neon marquee, and the former movie house was transformed into a home for live theatre and the performing arts. Today, The Ritz Community Theatre continues that tradition as a gathering place for performances, films, education, and community events. Hosting Spark! adds a new chapter to more than a century of entertainment, adaptation, and community life within these walls.
The Local Story
Each of the six host communities plan to put their own local spin on the national story with additional exhibits, events, tours, and more.
Scurry County at 150: Stories of Innovation
Developed as a companion to the Smithsonian’s Spark! Places of Innovation and presented during Scurry County’s 150th anniversary year, our local exhibit at the Scurry County Museum explores the people, ideas, industries, and creative traditions that have shaped Snyder and Scurry County.
Through artifacts, photographs, and locally researched displays, the exhibit highlights stories of innovation ranging from the region’s oil-boom heritage and aviation pioneers to the arts, theatre, public art, and beyond. Together, these stories show how generations of local residents have responded to challenges, pursued new ideas, and helped shape their community.
Visitor Information
Plan Your Trip
Expand the items below to find all the information you need to see the national traveling exhibit in Snyder. While you're there, take advantage of all there is to do in town and beyond! Discover places to stay, dine, and things to do.
Exhibit Location
The national exhibit can be viewed at the historic Ritz Community Theatre in downtown Snyder.
1810 26th Street
Snyder, TX 79549
Snyder's local exhibit is locatd at the Scurry County Museum. See below for more information.
Fee and Hours
The Spark! exhibit will be on display from October 3 to November 15, 2026.
Hours:
Tuesday – Wednesday: 1:00pm – 6:00pm
Thursday - Saturday: 10:00am - 7:00pm
Sunday: 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Closed Mondays
Guided Tours:
Wednesdays & Saturdays at 2:00pm (no reservations required)
Fee:
Free of charge
Parking Information
Spark! Places of Innovation Parking:
Public street parking for The Ritz Community Theatre is available around the downtown square and throughout the surrounding downtown area.
Local Exhibit Parking:
Free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Scurry County Museum. Because the museum is located on the Western Texas College campus, visitors should follow campus signage to the museum. The museum is Building 23 on the WTC campus map.
Accessibility
Both The Ritz Community Theatre and the Scurry County Museum are wheelchair accessible and have accessible restrooms. The Smithsonian exhibition at The Ritz is housed entirely on the first floor, so no elevator or stair access is required to visit the exhibition. The local companion exhibit at the Scurry County Museum is also housed on the first floor.
Local Exhibit
While in town to see the Smithsonian's "Spark! Places of Innovation" exhibit, please also visit the local exhibit, "Scurry County at 150: Stories of Innovation".
Scurry County at 150: Stories of Innovation
Scurry County Museum
6200 College Ave.
Snyder, TX
Hours:
Tuesday–Friday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays
Additional Programming
While you're in town to see the exhibit, stay a while longer to enjoy the incredible lineup of additional programming. For more information on other things to see and do while you're in check out the programs below. Visit Snyder's local website and the Spark! page on the Ritz Community Theatre's website for additional programming updates.
And for even more fun in Snyder, be sure to check out the Discover Snyder website for information on more things to see and do while you're in town.
OCTOBER 2026
Week 1 (October 3-8): Celebrating Community Spirit and Local Heritage Traditions
White Buffalo Days (Day 1) - Downtown Square
October 2
White Buffalo Days (Day 2) - Downtown Square
October 3
WTC@Spark! - Ritz Community Theatre
October 6
Spark After Dark: Preston Lewis - Scurry County Museum
October 8
Week 2 (October 9-15): Celebrating the Arts
Boomer Reunion - Downtown Square
October 10
Powers Boothe Tribute - Worsham Auditorium – Snyder High School
October 10
Kingdom Gathering - WTC Colliseum
October 11
Movies@Spark (Hidden Figures) - Ritz Community Theatre
October 13
Spark After Dark: Tracee Robertson - Scurry County Museum
October 15
Week 3 (October 16-22): Community Connections and Shared Roots
Western Texas College Community Event - WTC Campus
October 17
Movies@Spark (October Sky) - Ritz Community Theatre
October 20
Spark After Dark: Deborah Moran - Scurry County Museum
October 22
Week 4 (October 23-29): Boomtown! Energy Innovation
BOOMTOWN Beer & Music Festival - Downtown Square
October 24
Movies@Spark (Wall-E) - Ritz Community Theatre
October 27
Spark After Dark: Speaker TBD - Scurry County Museum
October 29
NOVEMBER
Week 5 (October 30-November 5): Western Heritage
Halloween at the Village - Heritage Village
October 30
Escape the Village - Heritage Vilage
October 30
Escape the Village - Heritage Village
October 31
Movies@Spark (Field of Dreams) - Ritz Community Theatre
November 3
Spark After Dark: William V. Scott - Scurry County Museum
November 5
Escape the Village - Heritage Village
November 6
Week 6 (November 6-15): Scurry County Military Heritage
Flags in Cemeteries - TBA
November 6
WASP Fly-In & Aviation Day - Winston Field
November 7
WASP Activities & Reenactor to Perform - Ritz Community Theatre
November 7
Military Heritage Salute: MIA Memorial Ceremony - Scurry County Courthouse
November 8
MIA Memorial Reception - Ritz Community Theatre
November 8
Movies@Spark (Big Hero Six) - Ritz Community Theatre
November 10
Spark After Dark: Photography Show Awards and Reception - Ritz Community Theatre
November 12