Abstract: The show was greeted with great acclaim, and its message of cultural interchange and open borders found resonance in a new-found spirit of openness and political reconciliation of the "glasnost" era.But just when the Crossroads exhibit was about to complete its tour in North America, new and unforeseen barriers emerged as the economic and social structure of the Soviet Union collapsed, leaving its museums without funds and its transportation and security systems in disarray.Our colleagues at the Institute of Ethnography (Soviet Academy of Sciences) now had more immediate concerns than honoring exhibit agreements; nor could they guarantee the safety of the objects for the planned Russian tour.For a while we thought that the absenceof Russian funds could be solved by American donors, but none could be found.We then tried to arrange a tour in Japan; but this also fell victim to problems of financing and schedules.Ironically, the forces of change that had helped launch Crossroads now blocked our efforts to bring the message of joint Beringian heritage to both sides.By this time it became clear that the big Crossroads which, with its large number of artifacts, heavy display cases, and complicated travel and conservation requirements, could never meet another one of our goals that of bringing early Beringian collections back to the Native communities where they had originated.For this a new and sim- pier arrangement had to be made.It also seemed best to prepare a completely different exhibit, one that built upon the Crossroads themes but used artifacts horn local Siberian and Alaskan museums and depended on local curators.In short we wanted to create a show that would enhance local artistic and educational programs rather than be seen as another "outsider" view of Native cultures.