A Note from the Director

Dear Friends:

Fall is FINALLY in the air and as we turn the clocks back this weekend, we are full steam ahead here at the Museum!

In addition to a month full of outstanding programming, we will have a major upgrade to our curb appeal! Thanks in part to a grant from the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, we are installing a brand new sign along Beach Boulevard! Additionally, that big fundraiser we did in September with Rockaway will be used to re-landscape around the building and park. More to come on that but thanks in advance to Don Bell Signs, Crawford Electric, and Rockaway Sustainable Landscaping for their work on this project!

We are also getting ready to order our first batch of custom engraved bricks! These bricks will be installed in the Train Enclosure for everyone to see year-round and especially during our big events like Beaches North Pole Express. They make GREAT Christmas gifts, hint hint!

We are also thrilled to welcome Dru Cissel Jensen to the team as our Marketing & Education Manager. Dru will be managing our social media, website, communications, and educational programs along with “other duties as assigned.” She’s already jumping right in with the re-launch of the popular “Beaches Area Historical Society Cookbook.” Please join me in welcoming Dru to the team!

Thank you as always for your wonderful support of the Museum and we will see you at one of our upcoming programs and events!

-- Chris Hoffman
Executive Director

"American Dream: Steps Towards Abstraction"

FINAL WEEKEND!

Caitlin Flynn has exhibited in galleries from Chile to New York, and now calls the Beaches her home. She draws inspiration from the Abstract Expressionist movement, Wolf Kahn, and the Bay Area Figurative Movement. In her most recent series, she reflects on the American Dream, starting with writing hundreds of words on the canvas, and painting over them playing with their visibility in the painting’s context. Join Caitlin for a journey through memory of daydream, fog, and the abstract in "American Dream: Steps Toward Abstraction."

The exhibit closes on Sunday so don't miss your chance to stop by to see it!

Special thanks to the GFWC Jacksonville Beaches Woman's Club for making this exhibit possible.

Exhibit Opening: "Golden Hour Dwelling" by Rebecca Lemmon

Friday, November 10, 2023
6:00-8:00 p.m.

In a continued celebration of local artists, Beaches Museum is proud to present the work of Rebecca Lemmon.

About the Artist: Discover the art of Rebecca Lemmon, a local painter whose work celebrates "the faithful simplicity of daily life." A graduate of Flagler College, Rebecca taught painting and drawing for 10 years at Episcopal School of Jacksonville. Her latest work highlights how “ordinary days have their own glory," celebrating the light-dappled beauty of domestic and botanical scenes. Lemmon’s immersive artistry invites the viewer to experience how the simple evokes the sublime.

The community is welcome to join the artist, Museum members, supporters, and art patrons for a first look at Golden Hour Dwelling. Artwork will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Beaches Museum.  

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

 Register Here

Cemetery Tour: Pablo-Mayport Cemetery

Saturday, November 11, 2023
1:00-2:00 p.m.

Local historian, Johnny Woodhouse, will lead a special tour of the historical Pablo-Mayport Cemetery on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 1:00pm.

An important piece of Mayport Village history, the 1-hour tour highlights the stories behind the tombstones of notable Mayport, Florida founders and families, including Elizabeth Stark, Henry Charles “Booty” Singleton, the King Family, and many others.

The event is free to Museum members, with a suggested $5 donation for nonmembers. Preregistration is required. For more information and to register, go to www.BeachesMuseum.org or call (904) 241-5657.

Pablo-Mayport Cemetery is located in a residential neighborhood at 1515 Wonderwood Lane, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233. Parking is limited. Please be respectful of the neighborhood when visiting for the tour.

Register Here

Chapel Concert: EG Kight

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., Concert begins at 7:00 p.m.

When she talks, the endearing southern drawl draws people in like a magnet. And when she sings, there’s no doubt that EG Kight means business. With her rich vocals, captivating guitar style, and hefty catalog of well-crafted original songs, she has entertained audiences around the globe in true southern style. An indisputable triple threat – as singer, songwriter, and guitar player - Kight's high-energy shows, with her own unique blend of "country flavored southern fried blues", appeal to fans across the genres.

As she celebrates over 25 years as a blues artist, Kight’s long and successful career is more proof that the blues is alive and well, and that all ages relate to the music. “The blues is about capturing a genuine feeling and being real, rather than trying to get a lyric or phrase right,” the artist explains about her gritty-over-pretty style.

Since live music made a comeback after the pandemic, in addition to the occasional solo show, Kight has been touring as a trio, with “the boys,” two of her long-time band members - drummer/percussionist Gary Porter and guitarist/dobro player Ken Wynn. Kight explains how it all came together. "The three of us have performed in my band together for over 20 years, and Gary and Ken are like brothers to me. This stripped-down version with just the three of us allows for a tighter show with sweet harmonies, harp, percussion, drums, dobro, and acoustic guitars."

Thank you to the Lazzara Family Foundation for presenting the Chapel Concert Series!

Tickets Here!

Florida Chamber Music Project Concert: Barber & Mozart

Sunday, November 19, 2023
3:00-4:00 p.m.

The Beaches Museum Chapel serves as the venue for the Florida Chamber Music Project's concerts. The November Concert features pieces by Samuel Barber and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.


Visit the Florida Chamber Music Project's website for more information and to purchase tickets!

Book Talk: "Spires in the Sun"

Thursday, November 30, 2023 *PLEASE NOTE: NEW DATE*
6:30-8:00 p.m.

The Beaches Museum, in partnership with St. Paul’s By the Sea Episcopal Church, will host an author talk on “Spires in the Sun” at the Beaches Museum Chapel on Thursday, November 30.

This event is one of a series of author talks on the Florida Carpenter Gothic Episcopal churches featured in the book. There will be a meet and greet and book signing before and after the author talk with Jonathan Rich and Phil Eschbach.

“Spires in the Sun” is organized in two parts. Part I includes: a description of a typical Florida church of the “Carpenter Gothic” style; a recounting of the advent and growth of the Episcopal Church in Florida; biographies of Bishops Rutledge, Young and Weed, with a particular emphasis on Bishop Young and his working affiliations with architects Richard Upjohn, Frank Wills, Charles Haight, and Robert Schuyler; an explanation of relevant contemporary influences, such as the Oxford Movement, the Gothic Revival, and ecclesiology; and an examination of the prominent roles of women in campaigns to build the churches. Part II is divided into 39 chapters, each of which profiles a specific surviving 19th–century Carpenter Gothic Episcopal church in Florida. These chapters tell the story of how each church was dreamt of, planned, and built by its original mission members.

The event will begin with an author meet and greet, book signing and social hour at 6:30 p.m. The presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The presentation will also feature Sidney Stormes Spurgin whose parents rescued and substantially rebuilt the 1887 chapel that is now located at the Pablo Historical Park. "In my 93 years I have been blessed to be able to see so many wonderful things happen in and around Jacksonville Beach” says Spurgin. “Our St Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church has played a significant role in the Beaches' story, and I eagerly anticipate sharing its history and legacy with everyone."

The hardcover, 500-page book retails for $75 will be available for $65 at the event and through pre-order HERE.

For more information or to RSVP to the event, please visit www.beachesmuseum.org or call 904-241-5657.

About St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, the oldest religious congregation in the Jacksonville Beaches, is renowned for its rich history of faith, community service, and inclusivity. The church's commitment to embodying Christ's teachings is exemplified through powerful worship, passionate service to the community, and its dedication to fostering a sense of belonging for all.  

Register Here

Leave Your Mark! Buy a Brick!

Show your Beaches Museum pride, memorialize a loved one, or celebrate something special by having your message displayed on a commemorative brick to be installed inside our Train Enclosure.

Engraved on your brick could be a name, a message, a business, or something else entirely! Whatever you decide, your brick will serve as a visible reminder of your commitment to the Museum and the Beaches area.

Every brick has a story. Write yours and make your mark as a part of the Beaches Museum. History is in the making, and this is your chance to memorialize the things that matter most to you. Your brick will be a place where the past meets the future in a perfectly preserved moment as a permanent part of Beaches history.

The 4”x 8”x 2 ¼” bricks are engraved using state-of-the-art laser technology and they are all guaranteed for life.

 Buy-A-Brick

Support the Museum through Membership!

Membership at the Beaches Museum is a great way to show your support!

Join us in preserving, understanding, and celebrating the history of the Beaches – become a member of the Beaches Museum. Join now, and you receive all the benefits of membership, including access to historic buildings, the Beaches Museum, and rotating exhibits showcasing the colorful heritage of our Beaches communities.

You can become a member of Beaches Museum on our website. You can also donate directly to the Museum. When you chose to donate you can select a project that most interests you, including the Chapel Preservation Fund, the Jean McCormick Founders Fund, or the Museum’s General Fund.

Beaches Museum 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] .