Dear Friends:

We are so excited to announce that the Board of the Beaches Museum has approved and adopted the 2023 Strategic Plan! The plan was a culmination of nine months of work including community surveys, stakeholder meetings, research of other organizations and more. The Board, with the support of The Community Foundation, invested in a consultant who led the Strategic Planning Committee through months of meetings, homework and a LOT of flip charts! Thank you Jana Ertrachter and all the members of the team for your efforts!

You can see the executive summary HERE.

Now the real work begins as staff, board members and volunteers will prioritize each strategic issue and begin to create and implement action plans! More to come as we take some bold steps towards the future of our organization!

I also wanted to extend big congratulations to Brittany Cohill who was recently appointed to be the Executive Director of the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society! Brittany began her professional museum career here with us when, after she completed her internship as part of her UNF Master's degree, she was hired as the Operations Manager and promoted to Associate Director of the Museum. Brittany's passion for history, her experience managing programs and her knack for working with volunteers are just a few qualities that we are sure will lead to her success in the position!

As always, we look forward to seeing you around the Museum!

Take a journey through history to see the growth of the Beaches, with the combination of tradition and innovation that has been the hallmark of Beaches tourism.

Since the 1800s, tourism has brought people from all over the United States and beyond to the Beaches, and many visitors now call the Beaches home. These visitors helped create employment and prosperity that caused the Beaches to grow.

Learn how tourism has supported the Beaches and made this community the inviting and beautiful destination it is today.

The exhibit will be on display at the Museum from March 3 to July 9. Several events will accompany this exhibit, including the Exhibit Opening Reception on March 3, a Boardwalk Talk on Golf's Florida History by Billy Detlaff on March 23 and a Boardwalk Talk on Lost Restaurants of Jacksonville with Dorothy Fletcher on May 18.

For more information on the exhibit and events visit www.beachesmuseum.org or call 904.241.5657.

Birdies for Charity

The PLAYERS Championship is right around the corner! The Beaches Museum is proud to participate in Birdies for Charity which not only raises funds but gives YOU a chance to win $10,000! 

All you have to do is make a donation of $20 or more via our WEBSITE or directly to Birdies for Charity and select “Beaches Area Historical Society” by 5:00 p.m. March 8. 

Make a guess and then tune in for some great golf!

Exhibit Opening Reception

Wish You Were Here: Tourism at the World's Finest Beach

March 3, 6:00 p.m.

Explore Beaches Museum’s new history exhibit, “Wish You Were Here: Tourism at the World’s Finest Beach,” at the Exhibit Opening Reception on March 3, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The exhibit will take a journey through history to see the growth of the Beaches, with the combination of tradition and innovation that has been the hallmark of Beaches tourism. 

Boardwalk Talk: Golf's Florida History

The First Coast Shines for over 130 Years

with Billy Dettlaff

March 23, 6:30 p.m.

Join Beaches Museum for a Boardwalk Talk on “Golf’s Florida History: The First Coast Shines for Over 130 Years” with Billy Dettlaff on Thursday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Author Billy Dettlaff will present on the captivating history of golf on the First Coast. Dettlaff researched and wrote the first definitive history solely dedicated to the golf profession including tournaments that drew visitors to the area.

Dettlaff was the Head Professional at Inverrary for six years. He worked for the PGA Tour’s TPC Network for 22 years as the Director of Golf at TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, TPC Michigan in Dearborn, TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton, and TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. When he retired from the PGA Tour in 2009 he was the TPC Network's National Director of Golf based at TPC Sawgrass.

This event is free to Beaches Museum members with a suggested $5 donation for non-members. Please pre-register HERE. Visit the Beaches Museum website www.beachesmuseum.org or call 904-241-5657 for further information.

Florida Chamber Music Project

March 26, 3:00 p.m.

The Florida Chamber Music Project will continue their 10^th season with a concert on Sunday, March 26 at 3:00 p.m. in the Beaches Museum Chapel.

Enjoy two beautiful pieces, Disonance by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and The Lick Quartet by David Bruce.

Come hear the rich acoustics of chamber music and visit the historic Beaches Museum Chapel. All concerts in the series will be on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Receptions will follow each concert.

To purchase advance tickets online visit HERE

Chapel Concert: JP Soars' Gypsy Blue Revue Featuring Anne Harris

March 30, 7:00 p.m.

The Beaches Museum is excited to present JP Soars’ Gypsy Blue Revue Featuring Anne Harris at the Beaches Museum Chapel. Kick off Springing the Blues weekend with this concert on Thursday, March 30 at 7:00 p.m.

JP Soars’ Gypsy Blue Revue has been touring Festival Stages nation-wide and has quickly become one of the most sought after acts in 2023. Their high energy, eclectic performances have been shaking stages from Florida to Maine to Washington.

The band’s high energy and skills create a cohesive vision, with echoes of Muscle Shoals and Macon, that organically flows together into an entirely original and dynamic form of Americana, Southern soul roots music with a modern sensibility.

In celebration of the 31^st Springing the Blues Festival, the first 50 tickets to this Chapel Concert will be $31!

First 50 Tickets: $31

Regular Tickets: $40

Chapel Concerts are held in the historic Beaches Museum Chapel. Shows start at 7:00 p.m., check in begins and refreshments are served at 6:30 p.m. Seats are first come, first serve. Tickets are available HERE.

Beaches Museum Legacy Circle

Join our Legacy Circle!

Help ensure a future for our past by making a planned gift or a gift to our endowment! To learn more about remembering the Museum in your will or contributing to the future sustainability of our organization, please contact Chris at 904-241-5657 x 113 or [email protected].