From swans arriving to Lakeland in 1923 to city leaders like Mayor Mutz + Nicole Travis redeveloping downtown, our history writes our future, and we need your help telling it.

Introducing the #LALScrapbookChallenge. We want to play a game of show and tell to highlight what our city used to look like.

Are you a longtime local, or do your parents/grandparents have an amazing scrapbook laying around that's full of LAL gold? What do you remember about Lakeland of late? Maybe you were there when the oldest US water ski club started in Lakeland or you remember when Elvis Presley performed at the Polk Theatre.

Here’s how to get involved in our 2019 throwback articles + enter our first annual #LALScrapbookChallenge by Jan. 30.

1️⃣ Post your photo on social media using both #LALscapbookchallenge and #LALtoday. Or, send photos to hello@LALtoday.com with the subject line “Lakeland Scrapbook Challenge photos.” Include photo credit. Even if you took the photo, please include your name so we can properly attribute you.

2️⃣ Include 1 - 6 sentences of what the photos are and what the photo means to you and when + where the photo was taken.

(By sending us photos, you have given us permission to publish across LALtoday including our newsletter, website + social media platforms.)

After you send us photos, we’ll put together a collage of our favorites and bring it to you, our readers, to vote. Once you decide on the winning photo, we’ll contact the winner + feature them.

Throughout 2019, we’ll repost photos from the #LALScrapbookChallenge, so keep tagging us in your favorite throwback images of our city.

Questions about our #LALscrapbookchallenge? Email us + ask away.

Dating back to the 1940s, this family circus act known as the Four Merrill’s performed acrobatic, tumbling, and dancing acts with the Ringling Circus and the Shriner Circus. Having moved to Lakeland in 1931, they also performed at the Strawberry Festival, the Citrus Festival + the Polk Theatre.

At the office, we’re amazed at the passion our readers have about where the city has been + where it’s going.

We could spend hours browsing the online archives at the Lakeland Public Library + scrolling through Lakeland History Room.

We can’t wait to explore your memories of our wonderful city with you.

- The LALtoday team