A Note from the Director

Dear Friends:

And just like that, summer starts to draw to an end, the kiddos start getting ready to head back to school, and the Museum gets ready to kick off it’s fall event, exhibit, and program schedule!

The coming school year will see a special focus on re-connecting with our local schools! We have always hosted field trips here at the Museum but we will be launching “Traveling Packs” to give educators an opportunity to engage their students with local history from right inside the classroom. We’ll be hosting educators here for some pre-school year festivities and to share all of these opportunities with them. If you know an educator who may be interested, please direct them to Hannah at [email protected] for more information and an invitation! 

The long awaited and much anticipated cookbook will be here any day now! I know, it seems like it took a long time and it DID! But, that’s only because the recipes, stories, and photos just kept coming! We are already thinking about the next edition! For those of you who pre-ordered, your patience will be rewarded with a cocktail straight from the pages of the cookbook.

And finally, a bit of bad news. This year’s annual termite inspection revealed termites in two of our historic buildings. If you drive by or visit in early August, you may notice the tenting as we work to remediate the issue and continue to preserve these fragile historic buildings. We are thankful to those who have jumped in to help us with this issue and will recognize them once we successfully close this chapter!

As always, thank you for your support and we will see you at the Museum!

-- Chris Hoffman
Executive Director

Current Exhibit: "Exalted Shores" - The work of Clint Burbridge and Tom Schifanella

Take a visual journey through Exalted Shores, a collaborative exhibit showcasing the beauty of Northeast Florida’s coastal environments through the mediums of photography and art glass.

Through a dance of form, color, and light, the series invites viewers to immerse themselves in the natural allure of Northeast Florida’s exalted shores.

The exhibition encourages viewers to experience the beaches, marshes, and forests we enjoy every day with a fresh perspective.

Whether you are looking to escape for the evening or seeking artistic inspiration, Exalted Shores ignites a deeper connection with nature and a greater appreciation of this region’s complex beauty and diversity.

Cocktails and Cookbooks

Celebrate the long-awaited launch of the Beaches Community Cookbook!

Drop by between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on August 23rd to pick up your copy and enjoy a glass of wine or featured mixed beverage straight from the pages of the cookbook.

Make sure to reserve a copy! Stock is limited, cookbook availability on release day is not guaranteed without pre-order.

This event is free with registration and a suggested $5 donation for non-members. Consider supporting the Museum with a donation or purchase of the cookbook.

Reserve Your Copy

Educator Night

The beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year is rapidly approaching and all educators are invited to our back-to-school event!

Here at the Beaches Museum, we've been working hard to improve our educational offerings and will be rolling out new programming for students from first to fifth grade.

On August 15th, drop by any time between 4:30 to 7:30 for a first look at our brand new Traveling Pack lesson enrichment packages for the classroom as well as an educators-only tour of our History Park led by one of our experienced field trip docents.

Mingle with your fellow educators, enjoy beverages and charcuterie, and explore our History Park. Attendees will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a book of choice from our gift shop!

Registration is required to attend. To register, click the button below.

Register to Attend

Hurricane Dora Retrospective

On August 28th, 1964, Hurricane Dora made landfall. It was the first and only direct hit to Jacksonville in modern history. This month, we're remembering Dora with a retrospective mini-exhibit in the lobby. Stop by for a look at images of Dora's impact on the area.

Do you have memories of Hurricane Dora? Let us know! Your experience could be valuable to us as an oral history.

Interested in improving your hurricane preparedness? JAX Ready will have an outreach table at this year's Train Day on September 7th.

Play Music on the Porch Day 2024

On August 31st, the Beaches Museum will be celebrating Worldwide Play Music on the Porch Day. This year, Riverside Dulcimers and Friends will provide a live concert featuring music inspired by Michel Oesterreicher's Pioneer Family on the porch of the Oesterreicher Cabin from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Can't make the trip? Tune in on the Beaches Museum's YouTube channel or Instagram to listen live.

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.

Prices will be increasing in January, so act now!

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].