A Note from the Director

Dear Friends:

Well it’s spring alright! We have a BUSY April that starts TODAY with Springing the Blooms! The perfect way to start off your Springing the BLUES weekend, (do you like what we did there?) this event is for all ages with all sorts of fun and educational opportunities. 

This may also be a good time for some spring cleaning! If you are looking for some opportunities to help spruce up the History Park, grab a brush and help us paint the fence! This is a great opportunity for your work team, students looking for service hours or anyone who just wants to help make the park look a little better! 

Our annual Fletcher All Class Block Party is back on the calendar! We are really excited that the class of 1973 has decided to hold their reunion at the party! Even one of our food trucks is owned by a member of the class! Thank you to Kathy Burns Bennick for heading this up!

April is “National Volunteer Month” and we probably never thank them enough for all they do here at the Museum. From front desk volunteers to docents to researchers and archives assistance, we appreciate you more than you know! THANK YOU and we look forward to celebrating you this month!

Chris Hoffman

Executive Director

Springing the Blooms

April 1, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Come out to the Beaches Museum History Park on April 1, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for our annual celebration of spring, Springing the Blooms! It will be a fun, family-friendly, FREE event for all to enjoy!

Exhibits in Pablo History Park:

• Life Cycle of the Butterfly – Activities and demonstrations about the life cycle of the butterfly. Photo booth and goodie bags for kids.
• Everything to know about Sea Turtles – exhibit featuring the turtles that nest on Florida Beaches, and how you can help them. Hosted by Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol
• The Beaches Train Club will be running the Florida East Coast model train
• Face painting, art projects and other kid’s activities
• The Wildlife of Hanna Park – Learn about the plants and animals that inhabit our North Florida Parks and beaches.
• The Potting Shed – Children will plant and water a sunflower to take home and grow
• Plant Clinic, Learn from the Experts – University of Florida Extension Office Master Gardeners will share their knowledge about gardening in Northeast Florida.
• Vertical Gardening - JoAnne Krestul will provide everything you need to know about vertical gardening
• Jax Music Together – Children will sing and dance with Marcia on the Foreman’s House patio
• Learn about local beekeeping
• Drawing to Win a beautiful quilt – Tickets to win a beautiful handmade quilt are available with a small donation to the Museum. Click HERE to enter the chance drawing. Special thanks to Coastal Quilter of NE Florida for sponsoring this event.
• Tomato plant give-away courtesy of Rockaway
• Visit new Beaches Museum Exhibit “Wish You Were Here: Tourism at the World’s Finest Beach”

Special guest lectures:

• 10:30: UF/IFAS Master Gardener Karl Shaffer will speak on attracting hummingbirds at 10:30 a.m. in the Beaches Museum Chapel
• 11:30: Kevin Brown, Kevin Bodge and Jennifer Burns will give a lecture on “Sea Oats and Dunes” at 11:30 a.m. in the Beaches Museum Chapel

This event is free with a $5 suggested donation to support Beaches Museum. Please pre-register HERE. Visit the Beaches Museum website www.beachesmuseum.org or call 904-241-5657 for further information.

Fence Painting Party

April 7, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Beaches Museum needs your help! The fence around the History park needs a fresh coat of paint and we need your help to paint it!

The Museum will host a Fence Painting Party on Friday, April 7 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. So come on out, sip some lemonade, grab a brush, and have some fun painting fences!

Please register HERE so we know how many paint brushes and supplies we need!

Florida Chamber Music Project

April 23, 3:00 p.m.

The Florida Chamber Music Project will continue their 10^th season with a concert on Sunday, April 23 at 3:00 p.m. in the Beaches Museum Chapel.

Enjoy two beautiful pieces, Quartettsatz, D 703 - Franz Schubert and String Quartet No.14 in D minor - Franz Schubert “Death and the Maiden.”

Come hear the rich acoustics of chamber music and visit the historic Beaches Museum Chapel. All concerts in the series will be on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Receptions will follow each concert.

To purchase advance tickets online visit HERE.

Fletcher All-Class Block Party

April 29, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Come celebrate at the annual Fletcher All-Class Block Party with Fletcher graduates, faculty and supporters from across the decades! Enjoy music from a local band, dancing, food trucks, a gathering of classmates and much more will be on-hand for party guests. Join us Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.

This year’s theme will celebrate tourism at the beaches. We’ll remember our favorite old restaurants, hotels/motels and hot spots beloved by locals and visitors alike!

General Admission: $30 in advance, $35 week of the event, $40 at the gate

VIP: $50 in advance, $55 week of the event, $60 at the gate, includes 2 drink tickets, VIP check-in, lanyard and name tag and access to a VIP bar.

All proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Beaches Museum and help to continue our mission "To preserve and share the distinct history and culture of the Beaches area.”

Many levels of sponsorship are offered, find out more HERE.

TICKETS

Wish You Were Here: Tourism at the World's Finest Beach

Take a journey through history to see the growth of the Beaches, with the combination of tradition and innovation that has been the hallmark of Beaches tourism.

Since the 1800s, tourism has brought people from all over the United States and beyond to the Beaches, and many visitors now call the Beaches home. These visitors helped create employment and prosperity that caused the Beaches to grow.

Learn how tourism has supported the Beaches and made this community the inviting and beautiful destination it is today.

The exhibit will be on display at the Museum from March 3 to July 9. Several events will accompany this exhibit, including a Boardwalk Talk on Lost Restaurants of Jacksonville with Dorothy Fletcher on May 18.

For more information on the exhibit and events visit www.beachesmuseum.org or call 904.241.5657.

Beaches Museum Legacy Circle

Join our 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].

Upcoming Events

Boardwalk Talk: Lost Restaurants of Jacksonville with Dorothy Fletcher

May 18, 6:30 p.m.

Volunteer Interest Meeting

May 11, 11:00 a.m.

About the Beaches Museum

Beaches Museum's mission is "to preserve and share the distinct history and culture of the Beaches area." 

The Beaches Museum is generously supported by The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville and Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs.