LaVilla Museum, Jacksonville

Housed within the historic Ritz Theatre in the LaVilla neighborhood, the LaVilla Museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the African American experience in northeast Florida. Since its opening in 1999, the museum has told the stories of people of African descent-both enslaved and free-who lived in the region before Florida became a U.S. state in 1845. It also pays tribute to the neighborhood itself, once known as the "Harlem of the South," a vibrant cultural hub for Black poets, artists, playwrights, and musicians during the early to mid-20th century.

At the heart of the museum’s permanent exhibit, Lifting Every Voice in LaVilla, are two animatronic figures representing James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson-brothers born in Jacksonville who composed the Civil Rights anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing. Their story is brought to life through multimedia presentations, while a series of immersive room reconstructions-such as a church, barbershop, schoolroom, and family living room-evoke daily life in African American Jacksonville throughout the 20th century.

The LaVilla Museum also serves as a dynamic cultural centre, offering public programs, performances, and ongoing exhibitions that celebrate Black heritage and artistic achievement. Its growing 11,000-square-foot collection includes artifacts, documents, and photographs that place local stories within a broader national context.