JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – When turning the corner at Beach Boulevard and 3rd Street South, it’s hard to miss the sprawling, yellow-toned building with the beautiful veranda.
The building’s exterior may differ from what some would expect for a museum, but the local treasures within are worth a visit.
“We tell the history of the six beaches area,” explains Jon Wolf, the operations manager. “So, our six beaches are Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Ponte Vedra, Mayport, and also Palm Valley. Which isn’t technically a beach, but they’re so entwined with the beach community that we tell their story.”
The largest room immediately to the left is where the museum houses its permanent exhibit. Fashioned in a circle, every nook and cranny contains artifacts and informational placards to familiarize each visitor with the history of a specific beach’s location and time period.
This includes the history of indigenous tribes (including the Timucuans) with some artifacts dating as far back as the 13th century.
There are also exhibits highlighting the Jacksonville Beach Boardwalk, complete with old memorabilia, including a vintage swimsuit and swim boots. Another eye-catching piece is a model of the SS Gulfamerica.
“During World War II, it was operating off the coast of Jacksonville,” Wolf said. “It was actually subject to an attack by a German U-boat. It was sunk right off the coast of Jacksonville Beach. The surprising end to that story is the captain of the U-boat wrote a book of his experience in the war, and he came back to speak at Jacksonville, where he met with the families of some of the people who died in his attacks.”
Another exhibit tells the story of the old resort hotels. Wolf said the early history of Florida was centered around these resorts.
“We had the Oceanic, the Murray Hall, the Continental Hotel, where people would come down for months, whole seasons, even years, to spend their time here in Florida,” Wolf said.
Wolf said that though the permanent exhibit is home to a multitude of history, there are plans to redo it and make it better, adding that the plan is currently in the ideas phase with a contractor.
“We’re working on the ideas, and we’re hoping that by the end of 2025, we’ll start groundbreaking,” he said.
The permanent exhibit room is just the beginning. The adjacent room is a space designed to showcase the creations of local artists. Unlike the permanent exhibit room, the art space is temporary.
“We rotate between art and history exhibits once a quarter,” Wolf explained. “Right now, we’re showing ‘Salt Run and the Sea’, which is an art exhibit by Jenna Alexander.”
Wolf said the next exhibit highlighting the history of war and its impacts on the beaches is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
If you’re looking to plan your trip to the Beaches Museum, the hours and times are:
- Tuesday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon to 4 p.m.
The museum is closed on Mondays.
To learn more about the Beaches Museum and everything it has to offer, visit their website.
