Virginia Key museum for African American history advances

Written by Genevieve Bowen on January 29, 2025

Virginia Key is one step closer to establishing a museum dedicated to African American history and civil rights, two decades after voters approved funding for it, as a trust moves to wrap up financial agreements and bring the long-awaited project to life.

On Jan. 23, the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust approved and submitted its 2023-24 fiscal report and received a quarterly update from Executive Director Athalie Edwards on the museum’s progress, highlighting the ongoing collaboration with Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami. Ms. Edwards reported that the trust is concluding a grant agreement with the county and working with the budget office and city administration to release and advance funds for the museum.

“We’ve been working closely with the county. We’re working on drafting the grant agreement, which we’re going to get executed by the city manager, and we’re also working with the Office of Budget and Management to release the funds and also with the city administration to advance the funds,” said Ms. Edwards.

Commissioner Christine King called the update “fantastic news,” adding, “We are one step closer to realizing the dream of Madame Athalie Range of having a museum reflective of that space and all of the things that have happened there. I’m looking forward to it and I’m proud to serve with you.”

The trust’s 2023-24 fiscal report outlines continued efforts to engage the community in shaping the museum’s business plan, including public workshops and civic engagements highlighting the park’s historical significance. The report also details the trust’s role in preserving the 82.5-acre park, which serves as both a historic landmark and a recreational space.

These latest developments build on the October approval of the museum’s business and concept plans, following extensive collaboration between the trust, Miami-Dade County, Lord Cultural Resources and other consultants, marking a turning point after years of delays.

“The trust successfully secured approval for the business and concept plans of the forthcoming museum, which will honor the park’s legacy as a site of activism, celebration, and the preservation of Black history, culture and community,” the report reads. “This approval marks a significant step forward in the trust’s commitment to preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of the park for generations to come.”

In 1945, Virginia Key Beach Park was created in response to a protest held at Baker’s Haulover Beach when Miami’s Black community waded in the waters and demanded access to the county’s White-only beaches. The establishment of a Black-only beach at Virginia Key was a significant early victory in the civil rights movement in South Florida.

In 2000, citizens protested plans to develop a private ecotourism resort on the site. The Virginia Key Beach Civil Rights Task Force formed as a result, a planning effort that led the way for the museum.

In 2004, voters approved taxpayer funding for the museum and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs authorized two grant agreements totaling $20.5 million for the design and construction.

However, the project faced delays due to leadership disputes and financial concerns, which resulted in the restructuring of the trust’s governance in 2022. Despite setbacks, the project has gained renewed momentum with the recent approval of the business and concept plans.