In Search of Common Ground: Senior Citizens and Community Life at Potomac Gardens

In the early twentieth century, Washington, DC became home for thousands of African Americans who moved from the rural south to the industrial north, a national relocation known as the Great Migration. Many of these Washingtonians now live in Potomac Gardens, one of the city's largest public housing developments. Though they previously lived and worked in different areas of the city, the shared experience of migration helps them build community with new neighbors. Displays feature treasured photos and possessions that made the trip north with their owners, and other memories of what remained behind.

This exhibition is based on an oral history project sponsored by the DC Community Humanities Council’s City Lights program, which helps residents discover and share their histories. Potomac Gardens residents recall growing up in the rural south and migrating to Washington. They also reflect on living in different neighborhoods and the process of finding common ground with other Potomac Gardens residents.