In a time when Black history is being actively erased in our country, let’s uplift local Black history!
from the annual Lyttonsville History exhibit
at the Gwendolyn E. Coffield Recreation Center
One way, if you are able, is to support the Linden-Lyttonsville* Museum project. See below for more information.
All donations, small and large, will be gratefully received. Funds raised will enable the Linden-Lyttonsville Museum Committee to proceed with the next steps of turning the dream of the museum into reality.
* Lyttonsville was also known as Linden for much of the 20th century and most former residents still call the community by this name, which is why the museum committee has chosen to use both of the community’s names in the museum title.
Support the Linden-Lyttonsville Museum Project
As one of Montgomery County’s historic Black communities, Linden-Lyttonsville embraces a proud past while looking forward to an exciting future. The Linden-Lyttonsville Museum of Silver Spring will tell the amazing story of this special community—its people, their perseverance, and the contributions that shaped the County.
The Linden-Lyttonsville Museum Committee, composed primarily of current and former community residents, oversees the project. The Potomac Community Foundation (PCF) serves as its fiscal sponsor, which means your tax-deductible donation is processed through PCF, but 100% of funds raised go directly toward the planning, design, and implementation of the museum. PCF provides administrative and compliance support so that the Committee can focus on bringing the museum to life.
Donate: givebutter.com/2VUopx
Background: The late Charlotte Coffield, lifelong Lyttonsville resident and longtime civic leader (and a founding member of the Talbot Avenue Bridge Committee), had a dream of a museum dedicated to the history of her community, which was founded in 1853 by free Black laborer Samuel Lytton (Litton). She secured a commitment from the Montgomery County Recreation Department to house the museum in the Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Center, which is named after her sister. The Linden-Lyttonsville Museum Committee is now carrying the project forward.
The plan is to create a dedicated museum space within the Coffield Community Center when it undergoes a refresh five or so years down the line. In the meantime, preparation for a “soft launch” of the museum in 2026, which will utilize the lobby area for exhibits about the community’s history, has already begun. The committee now needs to raise funds to cover exhibit costs, such as professional framing of photos, printing of display boards, and more. The initial fundraising goal of $10,000 will cover these costs.
About the Linden-Lyttonsville Museum Committee’s fiscal sponsor: The Potomac Community Foundation was recently founded to address a deep and lasting injustice—the displacement, disinvestment, and erasure of Black communities that helped build Montgomery County. It is a community-rooted organization advancing meaningful change by supporting the people and places too often left behind. Its areas of focus include protecting cultural landmarks and oral histories that tell the story of Black resilience. Learn more at potomaccommunityfoundation.org and consider donating to them as well!
Talbot Avenue Bridge Community 