450+ Years of History and Heritage
Where are the Black history museums in St. Augustine? Who founded Fort Mose? Where is Butler Beach? Was Saint Augustine really from Africa? Our historical articles answer these questions and more.
Visiting Black History Museums
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Explore the People, Places and Events of St. Augustine's collective past
Learn with your boots on the ground!
These museums, storefronts, and galleries each share a unique story.
Despite being pivotal to our nation's heritage, the stories of African Americans and their ancestors have long been pushed aside or outright ignored. However, in the face of bigotry and hardships, generations of Black people have made joyful lives for themselves and shaped history in the process. Several sites in St. Augustine honor and commemorate these historical figures, keeping their memory alive to educate future generations.
Best Richardson Bookstore & Museum
This African-American owned bookstore focuses on the literature of the African diaspora.
The Best Richardson African Diaspora Literature & Culture Museum is primarily a bookstore. The large main room features shelves full of new, used, and rare books. Art and artifacts from around the world—including Africa, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and the Gullah Geechee Corridor—are also displayed and are for sale.
ACCORD Civil Rights Museum & Freedom Trail
A must-visit museum to learn about St. Augustine's impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
Founded in 2003, ACCORD Freedom Trail, a non-profit, grass roots organization, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. St. Augustine was a leading battlefield in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and the only place in Florida where Dr. Martin Luther King was arrested.
Ximenez-Fatio House Museum
Built on America's oldest platted street, interpreting life during the 1800s.
History Comes Alive at the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum lies just south of St. Augustine's Plaza de la Constitución on Aviles Street — the oldest platted street in America. With its diverse collection of artifacts, this house museum immerses guests in 1800s St. Augustine.
Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center
Excelsior, St. Augustine's first Black public high school, is now a museum.
In 2005, St. Augustine's first public high school for Black children was re-invented as the Excelsior Museum. Now called the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, this important site in St. Augustine's History has been a center of Black education since 1902 when the school (then referred to as 'School #2') first opened.
Gallery One Forty-Four
Stunning photography and books by award-winning photographer Lenny Foster.
Located on King Street, the gallery features the work of Lenny Foster. Foster, a local artist, works primarily in photography. His work has been displayed in the Albuquerque Museum, The Harwood Museum, and the Hubbard Museum of the American West.
Experience Living History
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What else is there to find?
Just as Black history is American history, Black history is St. Augustine history. In St. Augustine, history is in the spotlight year-round. Our website and mobile applications can help you delve deeper into the many stories that await you.
