The A. L. Lewis Museum at American Beach presents the rich stories of the journeys, visions, struggles, joys and triumphs of African American people in northeast Florida. It celebrates the preservation and resilience of this more than 87 years old American Beach community. A place of hope in a time of despair, American Beach was founded during the Great Depression in 1935. A.L. Lewis, President of the Afro-American Life Insurance Company and its Pension Bureau created this African American resort when Florida’s beaches were segregated. Its purpose was to provide African Americans with, in Lewis’ words, “recreation and relaxation without humiliation.
The exhibition, “Recreation And Relaxation Without Humiliation:” The American Beach Story, tells these unique stories using photographs, artifacts, videography, narration and documents from the archival collections of the Afro-American Life Insurance Company, visionary leader, A. L. Lewis, preservationist, MaVynee Oshun Betsch; “The Beach Lady,” Historic American Beach and the intergenerational American Beach residents.
The formerly named American Beach Museum opened on September 5, 2014, bringing the lifelong dream of MaVynee Oshun Betsch “The Beach Lady,” to fruition. MaVynee was a prominent figure on American Beach, and the great-granddaughter of A. L. Lewis. For decades, MaVynne worked tirelessly to protect American Beach’s place in history. She gave guided beach tours, operated a makeshift museum from her motorhome and fought against development and environmental degradation. With MaVynee’s transition in 2005, the museum continues her life’s work to preserve and celebrate the heritage of American Beach.
Inside the museum, with the use of smart phone technology (bring your ear plugs), visitors can choose to enjoy an expressive exhibit narrative by actor Rahman Johnson, A. L. Lewis’ great granddaughter, Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole and ‘The Beach Lady’s’ spiritual daughter, Carol J. Alexander. There are four iPad corners exploring first hand memories of American Beach and meet ‘The Beach Lady’ virtually through an engaging video footage of her American Beach Black History Tour and personal her archives including her iconic seven-foot dreadlocked hair. Explore the history of the area, including FranklinTown during the Civil War and black beach communities in the segregated Jim Crow era. Travel through the history of American Beach and gain a deeper understanding of the ingenuity, perseverance and achievements of African Americans in the development of African American and American society.
