Stories from the Path
Watch: Drag Queens, Community and the Total Solar Eclipse
Spencer Pride, located in Spencer, Indiana, put LGBTQIA+ identity at the center of their celebrations of the April 8 total solar eclipse.
“We’re here. We exist. We’re part of the community.” For Jonathan and Jacob Balash, the founders of Spencer Pride in the rural town of Spencer, Indiana, this concept is at the core of their mission. So when they learned about the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse passing through their town, they knew they wanted to celebrate with their neighbors in ways that centered and celebrated Queer identity.
For them, the eclipse presented an opportunity not just to incorporate science into their existing programming, but to use science as a vehicle to reach even more people. This approach manifested in lessons about how birds react during an eclipse, setting up “science stops” to explain how and why eclipses happen and, of course, an eclipse-themed drag show.
In this video, learn how Jonathan and Jacob Balash and the entire Spencer Pride family engage people with science in ways that affirm Queer identity and build community.
Watch: Totality Across the Nation
On April 8, 2024, Americans witnessed a total solar eclipse that darkened the sky from Texas to Maine. We documented some of their stories as part of our In the Path of Totality initiative.
A 3,000-person viewing party in Austin, Texas. An eclipse-themed drag show in Spencer, Indiana. An immersive art installation in Erie, Pennsylvania. A mobile science lab in the Ozarks of Arkansas. These were just some of the settings for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse that swept across the United States.
Massive amounts of work went into eclipse event preparations, culminating in one of the universe’s most incredible displays. More than 30 million Americans watched in awe as the moon temporarily darkened the sun and day became night. Through our In the Path of Totality initiative, the Simons Foundation supported more than 100 organizations across 13 states to celebrate the eclipse in ways that were meaningful to them and their communities.
Ultimately, the initiative was never just about that single day. The partnerships formed and relationships built will live on long after the moment of totality. In this video, discover how our collective effort enabled people to redefine their connection to science, one another and the cosmos.
Watch: A Celebration of Art, Music and Science in the Ozarks
The April 8 total solar eclipse will pass through Little Rock, Arkansas, and dozens of nearby rural communities in the Ozark region of northern Arkansas. The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, which has inspired innovation and a love of discovery since its 2014 opening in Little Rock, is committed to capitalizing on this opportunity. The Hub packed the fun of their main facility into a van and hit the road. With this Mobile Makerspace, the Hub is engaging nearby communities with the wonders and science of the eclipse.
In this video, see how the Hub team is centering the music and culture of the Ozarks in their efforts to inspire as many Arkansans as possible. By April 8, the Mobile Makerspace will have visited 25 rural towns.
Watch: The Total Solar Eclipse as a Catalyst for Art in Erie, Penn.
Benton C Bainbridge, a media art visionary, has long dreamt of convening people in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, for the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. This dream coincided with his desire to create a space for media art in Erie so that talented local artists wouldn’t have to leave town to pursue their dreams.
In late February, he opened an interdisciplinary art space called the FEED Media Art Center in the heart of downtown Erie. The opening show, “Eclipsing Stars,” is a collaboration between artist Alex “LoneSav” Staley and astrophysicist Moiya McTier and is supported by the Simons Foundation. The immersive artwork aims to foster excitement around the upcoming eclipse. In this video, learn how the FEED team and others are contributing to a larger revitalization effort in Erie.
Welcome to “In the Path of Totality”
What connects Bloomington, Indiana to Buffalo, New York? Or Austin, Texas to Akron, Ohio? At a surface level, it may not be much. But for a few minutes on a Monday in spring, they’ll be connected by a celestial event that, for many, will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass through towns and cities that are home to more than 30 million Americans.
The Simons Foundation is committed to helping ensure that the millions of people in the path of totality have an unforgettable experience.