This fall, the Smithsonian is coming to Ajo! From November 9 – December 20, 2025, the Curley School Creative Campus will proudly host Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition.
Spark! celebrates the spirit of innovation found in rural communities across America. Through photographs, objects, interactive displays, and digital stories, the exhibit highlights leaders, challenges, and breakthroughs that have shaped small towns — past, present, and future. Each host site adds its own story, making the exhibit truly unique to place.
Here in Ajo, the spotlight will shine on the Sonoran Desert Biosphere Region, recognized for its globally significant ecology and its innovative community partnerships in conservation, art, and sustainability. Visitors will discover how this desert region fosters creativity and resilience, offering inspiration for communities everywhere.
Rooted in its complex history as a former mining town, Ajo is defined by the convergence of three nations — Indigenous, Anglo, and Mexican peoples. Their traditions shape the town’s art, architecture, cuisine, and celebrations, creating a cultural fabric that makes Ajo both a gateway to the desert and a living meeting ground of heritage and innovation.
In addition to the Smithsonian exhibit, Ajo invites you to explore all that makes this desert town a one-of-a-kind destination. Stroll the historic plaza, admire public art and murals, and take in the beauty of the surrounding desert at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Don’t miss the Ajo Mountain Drive, a scenic loop road through dramatic landscapes and thriving forests of Organ Pipe cacti. At the center of it all, the Curley School Creative Campus stands as a model of community revitalization, blending history, culture and creativity.
Dates: November 9 – December 20, 2025
201 W. Esperanza Ave, Ajo, AZ
Learn more and plan your visit: onlyinajo.com
Come see how innovation thrives in the desert — and experience why there’s truly something special to discover Only in Ajo.