Peanuts: Huston & Carver

What began with a humble peanut became a remarkable story of innovation, collaboration, and community. Drawing from regional history collections, photographs, archival materials, and community narratives, Peanuts: Huston and Carver explores the partnership between Columbus inventor Tom Huston and renowned scientist George Washington Carver. The exhibition examines how their shared commitment to scientific discovery advanced peanut research, supported Southern farmers, and fueled the success of Tom’s Peanuts, while revealing relationships that crossed racial boundaries during the Jim Crow era. Through local stories and broader historical connections—including works highlighting Carver’s artistic pursuits—the exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the people, ideas, and partnerships that helped shape the Chattahoochee Valley. Developed in collaboration with COMU’s Teen Exhibition Council, students will work alongside Museum staff to research and curate the exhibition, write interpretive gallery labels, and contribute their own perspectives to this exploration of regional history.