Civil Rights in the Sunshine State
Over 60 years ago, the United States watched as President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. To honor the decades of struggle that led to that moment, the Residences at 400 Central, Red Apple Group and the St. Petersburg Museum of History proudly presented Civil Rights in the Sunshine State.
This exhibit explored the actions of Floridians that led to that historic legislation and the obstacles the Civil Rights movement faced in Florida. From Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s march in St. Augustine to the wade-Ins on Spa Beach in St. Petersburg – eye-opening photographs, printed panels, oral histories and carefully curated artifacts will help visitors experience the stories of the courageous Floridians who stood up to ensure equality.
On loan from the Florida Museum of History in Tallahassee, Civil Rights in the Sunshine State also features the Civil Rights efforts here in St. Petersburg. With the help of the community, the Museum of History added stories ranging from the bravery of the Courageous 12, to key activists such as Dr. Robert Swain, Jr., Rev. Enoch Davis and Joseph Savage. And as you enter the exhibit, you find yourself walking the St. Petersburg African American Heritage Trail.