To learn more about the beach's culture, stories and heritage, consider a visit to the American Beach Museum. In 2002, the beach was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Here, Black vacationers could enjoy the island without the threat of racial discrimination or violence.
Florida's first Black millionaire, Abraham Lincoln Lewis, purchased 200 acres of beachfront on Amelia Island and called it American Beach. In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, Amelia Island also provided a safe vacation haven for Jacksonville's Black residents. About 30 miles northeast of downtown Jacksonville, the relaxed community of Amelia Island draws families in droves with its 13 miles of beaches, historic attractions and laid-back atmosphere.
