New exhibit
Open May 16, 2026 - May 2027
The exhibition explores the foundation, flourishing, and dismantling of the historic Lakeland community,
while honoring the resilience of its residents and their ongoing work to preserve memory, pursue justice, and strengthen community ties.
We are honored to open and host this community-based exhibition, developed in partnership with the Lakeland Community Heritage Project, Inc. (LCHP) and shaped through close collaboration with Lakeland community members.
The exhibition will open to the public on May 16 and will be on view at the museum until May 2027.
Visitors can view the exhibition during opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 10 AM - 4 PM.
Caring for Each Other
Faith
Education
Work and Entrepreneurship
Connection to the land
Resilient Joy
These are the values that Lakeland was built on,
and the qualities that sustained the community for over 100 years.
Visit the museum to learn more about Lakeland,
and how we all can create communities of care, resiliency, and joy.
About the exhibit
Over the past two years, the College Park Aviation Museum has partnered with the Lakeland Community Heritage Project (LCHP) and the Michelle Smith Collaboratory for Visual Culture, Department of Art History and Archaeology, University of Maryland, to develop an exhibition that tells the story of Lakeland, the historic African community of College Park, and its ongoing work to preserve memory, pursue justice, and strengthen community ties.
Throughout the nation's 250 year history...
...African Americans have labored to build safe, nurturing environments where children thrive and neighbors care for and support one another. Less than a mile away from College Park Airport, Lakeland flourished for nearly 100 years. This multi-generational African American community was sustained by love, faith, and resilient joy. Lakelanders created a healthy thriving neighborhood until urban renewal and other external forces overwhelmed it and chipped away at Lakeland’s foundations from the 1940s through the 1980s.
Reclaiming Our Space: The Story of Lakeland...
...explores three pivotal periods in Lakeland’s history: its foundation (1890), its heydays (1910-1970), and its dismantling (1970-1975). Urban renewal led to the demolition of most of Lakeland’s landscape and the displacement of nearly two-thirds of its residents, leaving behind a profound legacy of physical and emotional upheaval. The repercussions of this displacement are still felt today, as many Lakelanders grapple with the lasting impact of community destruction. Despite the sting of loss and in the face of erasure, Lakelanders carry their stories, their kinship, and their joy within them. Reclaiming Our Space is ultimately a story of love, resilience, and joy.
Through oral histories, photographs, personal objects...
...newly curated interviews, and an interactive cityscape, the 900 sq. ft temporary exhibition celebrates a community where neighbors remain family and where Lakeland’s spirit continues to live, gather, and thrive. This project has profound significance as it introduces a shared authority curation and meaningful partnership between the museum and the Lakeland community. Contrary to traditional curatorial practice where the museum shapes the narrative, the content of the exhibition was produced by the community and developed in close consultation with Lakelanders. This approach allows us to build trust and provides a platform for the community to reclaim its narrative and tell its story on their own terms. It also helps foster space for critical and meaningful conversations about racial pasts and the vital role of museums in supporting their local communities, remediating national silence about the lived experiences of historically marginalized, and advancing social justice.
The College Park Aviation Museum is grateful for the opportunity to share the story of Lakeland and support the community’s ongoing work to pursue justice and reclaim their space.
Reclaiming Our Space: The Story of Lakeland would not have been possible without the support of the Lakeland community members and all who contributed their invaluable time, knowledge, and research.
A special thank you to:
The Lakelanders who contributed
​
Lakeland Community Heritage Project, Inc.
​
The Braxton Institute for Sustainability, Resiliency and Joy
​
Dr. Mary Corbin Sies, Associate Professor Emerita, Dept. of American Studies, University of Maryland
Dr. Quint Gregory, Director, Michelle Smith Collaboratory for Visual Culture, Dept. of Art History and Archaeology, University of Maryland
​
Dramane Bationo, Hannah Brancato, John Martin Hunter, Jamie Nicole Myre, and Scherly Virgill. Collaborative Curation course, Museum Scholarship Program, Spring 2025, University of Maryland, led by Dr. Quint Gregory
​
Collaboratory Interns Academic Years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 for their help developing the 360-degree Streetscape tour
​
The exhibition was made possible thanks to the support of:
Maryland 250th Commission, 250th Inclusive History Grant
The Field of Firsts Foundation, Inc.
More visitor information
Plan your visit
Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm
Closed Mondays and holidays
About the museum
College Park Airport is the world's oldest continuously-operating airport, open since 1909.
The College Park Aviation Museum preserves and shares the exciting history of the airport, this "Field of Firsts."
Tours and Groups
The museum offers guided tours for schools and groups of 10 or more.