Left: Dr. King participated in St. Augustine demonstrations that are now featured on the Black Heritage Trail, underscoring the city’ s pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. Photo Credit St. Johns Cultural Council
Below: Courageous wade-in protests at St. Augustine Beach in June 1964 helped bring national attention to segregation and strengthened the fight for civil rights. Photo Credit: St. Johns Cultural Council. histories,” said historian Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs.“ There are powerful stories of freedom-seeking and freedom-fighting that deserve to be elevated. The Black Heritage Trail sheds light on this rich historical legacy
‣ Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs and is positioned to educate and enlighten thousands of people.” These narratives include early Africans who lived under Spanish rule, free Black communities tied to Fort Mose and civil rights leadership that helped influence national change in the 1960s.
Community-Led Storytelling
The St. Johns Cultural Council developed the trail in collaboration with local historians, cultural institutions and residents to ensure research reflects the communities represented.
“ I have been a lifelong resident of St. Augustine and St. Johns County, and the history of the Black community has taken a back seat to other histories,” said Thomas Jackson, founding member of the Fort Mose Historical Society.“ The Black Heritage Trail is a valuable addition to ongoing efforts to tell the full story.”
For museum leaders, the trail expands access to information beyond the city’ s historic core.
“ We share an abundance of stories inside the
‣ Thomas Jackson
Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, but this project helps reach people in other parts of the county,” said Regina Gayle Phillips, Executive Director of the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center.“ Hopefully some of them will find their way to our museum as well.”
A Growing Movement to Preserve Statewide Black History
The trail’ s launch aligns with a broader statewide effort to elevate Black history. St. Augustine is also the designated home of the forthcoming Florida Museum of Black History, which recently secured $ 1 million in state appropriations for its first phase of planning and development. The museum aims to document, preserve and share stories of Black communities across Florida, providing a statewide narrative that complements local initiatives like the Black Heritage Trail.
Together, the museum and the trail reflect a growing commitment to preserving histories that deepen the cultural and educational landscape of both the region and the state.
“ This project brings greater recognition to the people and places that helped build and define St. Johns County,” said Brenda Swann, Associate Director, St. Johns Cultural Council.“ We hope it inspires reflection, pride and a deeper understanding of our shared history.”
Alesia Wilbekin is the Executive Director of the Foundation for the Museum of Black History
‣ Regina Gayle Phillips
‣ Brenda Swann
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