Much like American Beach itself, the A.L. Lewis Museum rose from the imagination of what could be, if only willed into existence. With a focus on American Beach from 1935 to present, the A.L. Lewis Museum celebrates the triumph of residents and visitors over segregation and other forms of racial discrimination and disfranchisement.
Our Mission
The A.L. Lewis Museum’s mission is to document and interpret the rich tradition and legacy of African Americans’ ingenuity, perseverance and achievements. Through our exhibits and programs, we honor African Americans as agents of change in the development of African-American and American society.
Humble Beginnings:
A Museum Takes Shape
In the late 1970s, MaVynee Oshun Betsch returned to her native Florida and focused on preserving American Beach. She became a “griot” celebrating the history and legacy of American Beach. Known as “The Beach Lady,” MaVynee was an international opera singer, historian, activist and environmentalist. She was also the great-granddaughter of Abraham Lincoln (A. L.) Lewis, one of the founders of the Afro-American Life Insurance Company and co-founder of American Beach.
“MaVynee was the museum itself.”
— Carol J. Alexander, Founding Director of A.L.Lewis Museum
From the basement of the shuttered Afro-American Life Insurance Company, MaVynee packed crates and crates, preserving documents, books and artifacts, carrying them away to her motorhome on American Beach. The precursor to her museum dream, she called the motorhome, “The Revolutionary Headquarters.” She would invite beach residents and visitors to gather in front of the motorhome to learn more about American Beach and its history.
Then, a brilliant idea took shape: The Beach Lady became aware that Nassau County needed a voting site for Amelia Island residents. Why not house the elections site and museum under the same roof? The county agreed and the American Beach Museum was incorporated into the design of the Community Center. American Beach Museum finally found a permanent home, and opened its doors on September 5, 2014, bringing MaVynee’s lifelong inspirational dream to life.
Learn more about A. L. Lewis, The Beach Lady and the beach’s origins and history.
Museum Leadership
Carol J. Alexander
Founding Director
Carol J. Alexander is President & Chief Creative Officer of MaBu: A Cultural Resource. As an arts management executive, producer, storyteller and educator, Carol helps organizations and individuals to deepen their understanding of themselves, their histories and cultures. She has led large-scale projects including the curation and rebirth of the National Museum of Liberia in Monrovia, Liberia. She also served as Founding Director of Jacksonville’s Ritz Theatre and Museum, where she produced and presented world-class artistic and educational programming on African, African-American and African Diasporan culture and history. A close friend and the “spiritual daughter” of MaVynee Oshun Betsch (The Beach Lady), she currently provides guidance and leadership to the American Beach Museum on a pro bono basis, in tribute to The Beach Lady’s lifetime dream. Download full biography.
Board of Directors
The A. L. Lewis Historical Society Board of Directors serves as the governing body of American Beach Museum.