This is the fourth in a series of  online tours of "Dan Sanborn's Lakeland," in which we share with our patrons what Dan saw through his camera lens.  During his long career, Dan documented in pictures the changing face of Lakeland, from the Ku Klux Klan marching on Florida Avenue to the Detroit Tigers in spring training, to army air force cadets training for war at the Lodwick School of Aeronautics, to the ever evolving architectural  landscape of the city. 

This installment features Lakeland's long and continuing interest in politics and aviation.  There is no other connection between the two than that both have played a significant role in Lakeland's history and development.

Lakeland has sent a number of its native sons to the state and national stage, including Herbert Drane, Park Trammell, J. Hardin Peterson, Lawton Chiles, and Charles Canady.  Drane, Peterson, and Canady served in the U. S. House of Representatives, while Trammell and Chiles each served as governor of Florida and represented the state in the U. S. Senate. Dan Sanborn captured on film some of the politics and electioneering that captivated Lakeland in the 1930's

The city has also long had an interest in aviation, with its first municipal airport dating to the mid-1920's.  It was home during World War II to the Lodwick School of Aeronautics, which trained pilots for service in the British and American Air Forces, as well being home to an Army Air Corps base at the present site of the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.  Dan frequently brought his camera to the Lakeland Municipal Airport (now the site of Tiger Town) to document events taking place there.  He also briefly served as the staff photographer of the Lodwick School of Aeronautics before beginning his own military career in 1942. 

Just click on the links below to get to this installment of "Dan Sanborn's Lakeland." 

POLITICS AND ELECTIONS       Politics

AVIATION                    Lakeland Municipal Airport                                        Lodwick School of Aeronautics