St. Johns County is the location of the Florida Museum of Black History, as recommended by the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force after its meeting on June 28, 2024, where the Task Force voted 6-1 to formally transmit this recommendation to the Governor and the Legislature.
On May 11, 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law CS/CS/HB 1441 (Chapter 2023-72, Laws of Florida) relating to a Florida Museum of Black History Task Force. The bill created a nine-member task force to provide recommendations for the planning, construction, operation, and administration of a Florida Museum of Black History. One of the goals of the Task Force is to recommend to Governor Ron DeSantis, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives a location for the museum.
At the ninth meeting of the Task Force on May 21, the members voted 5-4 in favor of recommending St. Johns County, affirming the location's top rank for the third time. Following a meticulous selection and scoring process, St. Johns County emerged as the leading choice, surpassing Eatonville/Orange County, Opa-locka, and Sarasota.
St. Johns County is a world-class African American heritage destination with abundant historic and cultural sites. These include:
• ACCORD Civil Rights Museum
• ACCORD Freedom Trail, with 30-plus African American Heritage locations
• Al Lewis Archway: Florida Normal & Industrial Institute
• Butler Beach
• Fort Mose Historic State Park
• Excelsior School Building
• Lincolnville
• Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center
• Plaza de la Constitucion
• Coquina Slave Cabin
• St. Augustine Beach Hotel
• St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church
• Zion Missionary Baptist Church
• Zora Neil Hurston Boarding House