The 1930’s were tough times for America and tougher times for blacks in America. The Great Depression began with the Wall Street crash of October 1929 and lasted until the beginning of World War II in 1939. Segregation laws did not allow blacks to frequent white establishments. This included denial of shoreline beach access to blacks, because whites used shore beaches. For blacks it was a tough time to find a job, and even a tougher time to find a place to relax and have a good time.

Prominent African Americans from Jacksonville formed the Afro-American Life Insurance Company in 1901 to provide the African American community with life insurance. In 1935, the Afro-American Pension Bureau purchased a 33-acre piece of property at the beach on Amelia Island. They planned the initial resort community on Amelia Island and provided blacks in the Jacksonville area open access to this beautiful and near-by beach. They named it American Beach, because they felt that in America beach access should be open to everyone. This purchase provided access to a wonderful shoreline beach and recreation facilities that Jacksonville area blacks could enjoy with their families.

In addition to providing beach access, this initial section of beach property also allowed for the building of resort homes. The property along the beach was surveyed and platted on March 12, 1936 for 82 vacation cottage lots, of 50 ft. by 100 ft., along two east-west streets and four north-south streets.

East-West: Lewis St. and Julia St.

North-South: Greg St., Ocean Boulevard, Waldron St. and Price St.

Lewis St., which is now the center of the American Beach property, was the southern border of the initial property purchased in 1935. It is this original section that has been recently designated as worthy of preservation on the National Historic Register. It is now up to the community and the county to take the necessary actions to implement a Historic Preservation District.

These lots were available for purchase by employees of the Afro-American Life Insurance Company as well as other Jacksonville residents. Many happy times were had by families who were for the first time given an opportunity to enjoy access to the shore, a right that we all take for granted.

In the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s American Beach became the place to be for fun and entertainment, including entertainment by famous black jazz musicians. Black families were given the opportunity each weekend to commute for a day at the beach on Amelia Island. A place to get away from the stress of the work week and the stress associated with segregation, a place to have fun with family and friends at the beach.

An additional 83-acre southern section was acquired for American Beach through a land grant by President Harry Truman in 1946. A third section was added when the Harrison Tract was acquired at a later date.

After the Civil Rights Act of 1964 blacks were allowed to go to all beaches and American Beach lost its special place of importance in the black community. Subsequently, as property passed from generation to generation and families moved away from Jacksonville, some residential and commercial properties were not well maintained. However, a number of descendants of the original American Beach property owners have worked to maintain their properties and maintain the character of American Beach and the original historic vacation resort properties. In addition, there has been some new homes built in line with the historic architecture, and recently the value of this beachfront property has been recognized and a recovery is beginning to happen at American Beach.

The A.L. Lewis Historical Society understands that people only protect what they love and people only love what they know. The American Beach Museum is an important means of helping people get to know American Beach. If you, or a friend, would like to help by becoming a Founding Member of the American Beach Museum you can write for a Founding Member application to:

The American Beach Museum

P.O. Box 15563

Amelia Island, FL 32035-3110

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