A Note from the Director

The Museum’s lecture series has gone through several transformations over the years. It began as “Whistle Stop Talks,” hosted near the historic locomotive—even before the Museum building existed. As our facilities expanded to include the gallery space and the Chapel, both ideal venues for conversation and learning, the series was renamed “Boardwalk Talk.”

These engaging talks bring in experts across a range of fields—including art, history, and environmental studies—to inform and inspire both our members and the wider community. We regularly collaborate with local universities and regional specialists, and this year, we’re excited to partner with Florida Humanities to welcome speakers from across the state. The series kicks off on May 1 with Dr. Leslee Keys!

Access is easy—admission is free for Museum members, and just a $5 suggested donation for non-members. Plus, we serve refreshments! If you’ve never attended a talk—or it’s been a while—we warmly invite you to join us for an evening of learning and connection.

We look forward to seeing you at the Museum!

-- 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.

Boardwalk Talk: Leslee Keys

May 1, 6:30 PM

Thursday, May 1 at 6:30 PM, join us for a special Boardwalk Talk with historic preservation expert Dr. Leslee Keys.

Coastal locations present unique challenges for historic preservationists. Expert Dr. Leslee Keys enlightens on the topic of the dangers posed to historical sites, including hurricanes, flooding, sea level rise, and more, and will provide an overview of what can be done to enhance the resilience of a coastal community’s heritage sites.

Dr. Leslee F. Keys is the Principal with Keys and Associates, LLC, a Heritage, Arts and Cultural Preservation firm based in St. Augustine, Florida and is a retired History/Public History faculty member and Director of Historic Preservation with Flagler College. She has decades of professional experience assisting communities and non-profit organizations supporting preservation, museum development, and disaster resilience.

REGISTER

Museum Member Deal of the Month: Books and Prints by Kathy Stark

For the month of May, we're celebrating Northeast Florida's natural beauty with pieces by Jacksonville native and resident, Kathy Stark. Her favorite subject matter is her natural Florida surroundings, which she explores by hiking, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, and dog-walking.

Support Timucuan Parks Foundation and St. Johns Riverkeeper by choosing their posters. A portion of proceeds from your purchase benefits the parks!

Museum members only can save 15% on these pieces. Visit the gift store any time this month to redeem your member-exclusive discount.

MEMBERSHIP

Chapel Concert: MillaJohn's BlueSoul

May 8, 7:00 PM

The Beaches Museum Concert Series will continue the 2025 concert schedule with MillaJohn’s BlueSoul on Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 p.m.

MillaJohn’s BlueSoul is a Jacksonville band concentrating on 60’s and 70’s style Chicago electric blues, soul, and R&B. BlueSoul is a sister project to John Miller’s BayStreet, a group with over 30 years of history. Miller has shared billing with the likes of Kenny Loggins and Chubby Checker. Though he has performed globally, from the Bahamas to Poland, he has called Jacksonville Beach home since the mid-1980s.

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

Thank you to the Fletcher All-Class Block Party team!

Saturday's Fletcher All-Class Block Party was a blast! Tons of supporters turned out to celebrate and enjoyed a fabulous event thanks to the Committee's hard work. Thank you to all the attendees, volunteers, and committee members who made this event a success!

Partner Spotlight: Crawford Electric

We are proud to call Crawford Electric a friend of the Beaches Museum. Located directly beside the Museum, Crawford Electric is more than just a good neighbor to us: they have also been an event sponsor and have long served as a dependable partner of the Museum. Crawford has serviced the Beaches area since 1984!

Crawford Electric even had a hand in the installation of our beloved statue of Neville the Loggerhead Turtle. Crawford helped Neville find his forever home on the Museum grounds using their bucket truck.

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 Dates!

June 1

Florida Chamber

Music Concert

June 12

Boardwalk Talk:

Behind the WWII Memorial

with Johnny Woodhouse

July 11

Beach Front Home Front:

War at the Beaches

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