State Grant Funds First Steps for Black History Museum
Florida’s first Black history museum will soon take shape in St. Johns County. Officials confirmed the project has secured a $1 million state grant to begin planning, design, and engineering.
The check was presented during a ceremony at Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park in West Augustine, a site with deep historic ties. The museum will be built on the same property that once housed Florida Memorial College before it relocated to Miami in 1968.
“This is the first step,” said Greg White, founder of the West Augustine Historical Community Development Corp. “Our museum will stand as a powerful reminder that Black history is American history.”
Plans for a Cultural and Educational Campus
St. Johns County leaders have outlined big plans for the museum’s future. Commissioner Sarah Arnold described the vision as a full cultural campus.
“Our design is a campus. I would envision seeing a museum, an art gallery, a performing arts center, a chapel, an educational component, gardens, walking paths, sculptures, you name it,” Arnold said.
This ambitious layout aims to create more than a museum. Leaders say it will serve as a space for learning, art, performance, and reflection.
Honoring the Past While Building the Future
Community leaders see the museum as a way to preserve history while inspiring future generations. The choice of location in West Augustine connects the project to the county’s long civil rights legacy and educational roots.
According to White, the museum is not only about honoring the past but also about shaping the future. Organizers believe the museum will provide a space where stories of resilience, struggle, and achievement are preserved and shared.
Next Steps Toward Construction
With the state grant in hand, the county is preparing to launch a foundation to raise an additional $500,000 in private donations. Leaders say these funds will help match state contributions and keep the project moving forward.
Plans also include seeking more state funding in the months ahead. If the timeline holds, construction could break ground as early as next year.
The museum is expected to serve both as an educational hub and as a destination for visitors from across the state and beyond.
