THE LINES WE CROSS: 250 Years of Maryland Forging America”
July 31, 2026 — October 31, 2027
Maryland sits directly below the Mason-Dixon Line, a border state where freedom and slavery once existed side by side. In this landscape of impossible boundaries, Black Marylanders learned to navigate through movement, making, and profound creativity. They crossed literal and symbolic lines to claim their lives, build vibrant communities, and challenge the nation to live up to its highest ideals. The Lines We Cross is a multi-floor, evocative experience at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum that traces how Black Marylanders have pushed boundaries, broken systems, and shaped the social, cultural, and political landscape of America.
A Journey Through Three Floors
TO BREAK: Abolition (Floor 1) – Step into a landscape of resistance. From the literacy of Frederick Douglass to the tactical brilliance of Harriet Tubman, discover how Maryland became a geography of escape and liberation.
TO BUILD: Artisans (Floor 2) – Celebrate the skill and innovation that built our foundations. Witness the power of the hand and the tool in shaping Maryland’s infrastructure.
TO BECOME: Artistic Expression (Floor 3) – Experience the shift from survival to imagination. Explore how lived experience was transformed into art, sound, and vision by icons like Billie Holiday and others.
Our freedom has always been unfinished work. This exhibition is more than a history lesson; it is a baton passed to the present. Join us in exploring the struggle, the creativity, and the courage of the generations that forged America.
Exhibition Resources
Acknowledgements
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum extends its deepest gratitude to our Board of Directors, whose unwavering support and stewardship ensure the museum remains a vital beacon for Maryland African American history and culture. This exhibition, “The Lines We Cross: 250 Years of Maryland Forging America,” was made possible through the collaborative efforts of our dedicated staff and our esteemed partners. We are especially grateful to Adler Display and Bonsai for their technical expertise and creative partnership in bringing this narrative to life. Our sincere thanks also go to the many community partners, historians, and descendants whose stories and artifacts provide the material evidence of our collective pursuit of liberation.
Terri Lee Freeman │President
Robert T. Parker │Chief Curator & Director of Interpretation, Visitor Experiences, and Education
Ricky Parker │Curator
Imani Y. Haynes | Co-Curator
Em Davidson │Collections Manager & Registrar
Terry Taylor-Nock │Education Programs Manager
Arthur Brown │Interpretive & Technical Support Coordinator
Aminah Phinnessee │Research & Curatorial Support Intern
Watch. Reflect. Visit.