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With the long-term goal of understanding high-temperature superconductivity (whose explanation has remained elusive since its 1987 discovery), we have worked towards site-resolved, spin-sensitive imaging of a two-dimensional square lattice of ultra-cold atoms. Such an approach may reveal the microscopic struggle between magnetism and superfluidity in square lattices. En route to this goal, we have constructed an ultra-high vacuum system, assembled laser cooling systems, tested high-resolution microscopes that are compatible with our system, developed a new wavelength for laser cooling and probing, and successfully trapped roughly 500 million atoms of fermionic potassium., The original document contains color images.