History Fort Lauderdale, in celebration of National Historic Preservation Month, will present “Lauderdale Living: The Architecture of Possibilities” from Thursday, May 1 – Sunday, June 29. The spring exhibition will showcase rarely seen historical photographs from the museum’s collection alongside contemporary works by artists Christina Lihan and Abby Laughlin. “We’re thrilled to showcase this exhibition that celebrates the unique architectural and aesthetic character that helps define Fort Lauderdale’s identity,” said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of History Fort Lauderdale. “By pairing rare historic images with the visionary work of Christina Lihan and Abby Laughlin, we’re bridging the past with the present in a way that invites both reflection and imagination.” Florida-based artist Christina Lihan transforms delicate paper into intricate sculptural landscapes, hand-cutting, folding, scoring and carving architectural forms that play with light and shadow. With a background in architecture from the University of Virginia and Columbia University, her work reflects a deep understanding of composition, technique, and design. Her meditative, labor-intensive process creates immersive environments that evoke a sense of place, often raising subtle questions of environmental justice. Fort Lauderdale artist and activist Abby Laughlin documents the beauty and history of mid-century modern architecture through photography and curated exhibitions. A former real estate professional with expertise in adaptive rehab, she brings a passionate, hands-on perspective to the importance of historic properties in shaping community identity. History Fort Lauderdale, proud steward of our community’s past by making our heritage accessible and engaging to residents and visitors, hosts a variety of engaging multicultural experiences, year-round. It seeks to bring awareness to the community through both traveling exhibits and multiple permanent exhibits including “Women Trailblazers,” “Fort Lauderdale – the Early Years,” “Roots of Resilience: The Journey of Black Broward,” “Fashion & Musical Theatre,” “From Dugouts to Dream Yachts: the story of boatbuilding along the New River,” Seminole Arts & Culture,” “New River Archaeology,” “Viva Fort Lauderdale: Celebrating Hispanic Art & Culture,” and “Take PRIDE, a retrospective on LGBTQ life in South Florida.” Since 1962, History Fort Lauderdale has served as the proud steward of our community’s past by making our heritage accessible and engaging to residents and visitors. It brings the stories of our diverse community to life through engaging educational experiences, innovative cultural exhibits, research and preservation of artifacts. Guests to Fort Lauderdale are invited to explore the city’s rich past that is housed in historic buildings on a lushly landscaped campus – the History Museum of Fort Lauderdale situated in the 1905 New River Inn, the 1907 Pioneer House Museum, the 1899 Ivy Cromartie Schoolhouse Museum and the Hoch Research Library, South Florida’s foremost history center housing print resources and newspapers from 1910 – present plus 400,000 archival photos, 2,500 maps and 5,000 architectural blueprints.
