A Note from the Director

March is rolling in and with it, Women’s History Month! We are delighted to be exhibiting the work of Jenna Alexander in her exhibit “Salt Run and the Sea” during this month as well as featuring author Dorothy Fletcher. No recognition of women here at the Beaches Museum would be complete without thinking of THE woman, Jean H. McCormick. 

The founding force behind the Beaches Area Historical Society, Jean left an indelible mark on our community by “providing a future for our past.” From laying the groundwork for the organization, to leading an ambitious vision, Jean’s impact is still quite visible today and will be for the foreseeable future! You can learn more about this incredible woman in this article, written by Museum staff and published by the Florida Times Union at the time of Jean’s passing in 2019.

The Beaches Museum’s endowment fund is named in Jean’s honor and is such a fitting representation of her drive to provide a lasting repository for our community’s history.

Left: Jean Haden McCormick featured on climbing a lifesaving station on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post, July 22, 1939.

If you haven’t been to the Museum in a while, what are you waiting for? We look forward to seeing you!

--
Chris Hoffman
Executive Director

Current Exhibit - Salt Run and the Sea: Art of Jenna Alexander

In a continued celebration of local artists, Beaches Museum is proud to present the work of Jenna Alexander.

Immerse yourself in Jenna Alexander’s visions of nature in oil on canvas. Capturing the beauty of our region’s tranquility with dreamy, impressionistic vistas and compositions, her pieces begin as photos taken on contemplative treks through nature. In each piece, Alexander preserves and shares the textures and tones of these fleeting moments from her solitary hikes. From the humble oyster to the vast ocean, Salt Run and the Sea honors and evokes the serenity evident in all aspects of Northeast Florida’s great wilderness.

On exhibit until June 22, 2025.

Museum Member Deal of the Month: Books by Dorothy K. Fletcher

For the month of March, our 15% off Museum Member Deal applies to all Dorothy K. Fletcher books in the gift shop!

Celebrate women authors with Lost Restaurants of Jacksonville, Growing up Jacksonville, Jacksonville on wheels, and more.

MEMBERSHIP

Chapel Concert: Mike Younger Trio

March 5, 7:00 PM

The Beaches Museum Concert Series continues the 2025 concert schedule with Mike Younger Trio on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Mike Younger is a contemporary vocalist, lyricist, and poet who brings elements of rhythm and blues, folk, and roots-rock to his performances on both guitar and keys. He will be accompanied by his rock-steady rhythm section in a 90-minute show that will leave audiences wanting more.

The Chapel Concert series, now in its 10th year, has featured a wide variety of musical genres, nationally and internationally known artists, and award-winning music. The Chapel Concerts benefit the Beaches Museum.

Check-in and refreshments begin at 6:30 p.m. and the show will start at 7:00 p.m. No physical tickets will be issued but your name will be on the list at check-in. Thank you for your support!

TICKETS

Volunteer Interest Session

March 15, 10:30 AM

Interested in volunteering with the Beaches Museum? Learn about the volunteer opportunities we offer at our next Volunteer Interest Session!

Our volunteers greet guests from the front desk, give guided tours as docents, help us prep for our arts and culture events, and more.

Join us in the lobby on Saturday, March 15th at 10:30 AM to learn more.

REGISTER

Celebrate Womens' Suffrage with LWV

March 15, 4:00 PM

Saturday, March 15 at 4:00 PM, join the League of Women Votes for a reading of two informative and timely works by local and noted playwright Toby Armour.

Join us for a special afternoon celebrating the fight for women’s suffrage with readings to illuminate the courage and determination of women who shaped history, featuring “Aunt Susan,” the story of Susan B. Anthony’s struggle for women’s right to vote, and “Her Tennessee Waltz,” a retelling of Carrie Chapman Catt’s fight  to ratify the 19th Amendment.

Toby Armour is a national award-winning playwright, including The Lewis Prize. Her plays have been presented in the U.S. from Florida to New York.

No tickets required. Donations welcomed for LWV Education Fund.

Boardwalk Talk and Book Signing with Dorothy Fletcher

March 20, 6:30 - 7:30 PM

Thursday, March 20 at 6:30 PM, join us at the Museum for a special Boardwalk Talk and book signing with this month's featured author, Dorothy K. Fletcher.

Dorothy Fletcher published Remembering Jacksonville in March of 2010. Since then, she has written four more books with The History Press—Growing Up Jacksonville, Lost Restaurants of Jacksonville, Historic Jacksonville Theatre Palaces, Drive-ins and Theatre Houses, and her latest effort, Jacksonville on Wheels: A Car Culture Retrospective.

Boardwalk Talks are free to Museum members with a $5 suggested donation for non-members. 

REGISTER

Florida Chamber Music Project

March 23, 3:00 PM

Partner Spotlight: Rockaway Sustainable Landscaping

Rockaway Sustainable Landscaping works with the Beaches Museum to maintain the grounds of the Museum and our beautiful Historic Park.

Rockaway has supported the Museum for several years and is even a repeat sponsor of our annual Springing the Blooms event, where they have been available to provide gardening advice. Look forward to their tomato plant giveaway at Springing the Blooms this April!

Support the Beaches Museum through Birdies for Charity!

Five minutes and a $20 donation could earn you $10K! The Birdies for Charity campaign invites you to enter a contest by making a minimum donation to a local nonprofit like us and guessing the number of birdies during THE PLAYERS Championship 2025. Enter any time now through Wednesday, March 12, 2025. PLAYERS covers credit card fees so that all donations go to your selected charity.

LEARN MORE

Leave Your Mark! Buy a Brick!

Show your Beaches Museum pride, memorialize a loved one, or celebrate something special by having your message displayed on a commemorative brick to be installed inside our Train Enclosure.

Engraved on your brick could be a name, a message, a business, or something else entirely! Whatever you decide, your brick will serve as a visible reminder of your commitment to the Museum and the Beaches area.

Every brick has a story. Write yours and make your mark as a part of the Beaches Museum. History is in the making, and this is your chance to memorialize the things that matter most to you. Your brick will be a place where the past meets the future in a perfectly preserved moment as a permanent part of Beaches history.

The 4”x 8”x 2 ¼” bricks are engraved using state-of-the-art laser technology and they are all guaranteed for life. Each brick is $100, and each purchase supports the Museum in our mission to preserve and share Beaches history.

Buy-A-Brick

Support the Museum through Membership!

Membership at the Beaches Museum is a great way to show your support!

Join us in preserving, understanding, and celebrating the history of the Beaches – become a member of the Beaches Museum. Join now, and you receive all the benefits of membership, including access to historic buildings, the Beaches Museum, and rotating exhibits showcasing the colorful heritage of our Beaches communities.

You can become a member of Beaches Museum on our website. You can also donate directly to the Museum. When you choose to donate, you can select a project that most interests you, including the Chapel Preservation Fund, the Jean McCormick Founders Fund, or the Museum’s General Fund.

Join or Renew!

Beaches Museum Legacy Circle

Help ensure a future for our past by making a planned gift or a gift to our endowment! 

To learn more about remembering the Museum in your will or contributing to the future sustainability of our organization, please contact Chris at 904-241-5657 x 113 or [email protected].

Save the Date!

April 3

Chapel Concert: Yates McKendree

April 5

Springing the Blooms

April 19

Gallery Tour: Salt Run and the Sea

April 26

Fletcher All-Class Block Party

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