This project chronicles the history and heritage of East Baltimore’s Historic American Indian “Reservation” in the 20th century.

In 2016, Ashley Minner (Lumbee) began to formalize a very brief walking tour of the American Indian community of East Baltimore. In conversation with her elders, she came to realize there were many sites of significance that are no longer recognizable on the landscape or prominent in public memory. Through continued conversation with elders, other community members and stakeholders, archival research, generous support from funders, and brilliant design, this project was realized and made public in 2021.

Please note that the information presented here is incomplete and subject to change because the community is always changing and this research is ongoing. Dates reflect occupation of sites, not lifespans of businesses or organizations. Individual homes of Indian people and families — perhaps the most important part of “the reservation” — have not been included. Mapping these would be a complex and massive undertaking and we haven’t quite figured out how to do it, but we may yet.