WHEREAS, The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center is preparing to commemorate the 100th anniversary of The Excelsior High School building which was a first for black students in St. Johns County, facilitating the graduation of many local leaders in business, civics, education, and sports; and

WHEREAS, The Excelsior High School wasoriginally designed by architect Fred A. Henderich, who is known for his design of other St. Augustine landmarks, such as the St. Augustine Visitor Information Center, the Florida Normal and Industrial Institute (now Florida Memorial University), and the downtown St. Augustine Record building; and

WHEREAS, The Excelsior High School served as several St. Johns County and State of Florida offices such as County Welfare, Finance, and Housing and it has been the home of St. Johns County

Pre-K Administration since 2016; and

WHEREAS, the historic Excelsior High School is home to the nationally acclaimed Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, which showcases more than 450 years of African heritage of the nation’s oldest city and its surrounding communities, and the building serves as an anchor for the Lincolnville Historic District as acknowledged by the National Registry of Historic Places; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns County, that August 2025 be recognized as the

100th Anniversary Celebration

of The Excelsior High School

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns County, Florida this 19th day of August 2025.