St. Johns County Hosts Immersive Black History Tour

• 1 April 2026
• Category: SJC News Parks and Recreation
• Tags: 2026

Participants explored sites across St. Johns County tied to African American resilience and progress.

St. Johns County hosted “Rails, Roots, & Freedom: African American Stories of St. Johns County,” an immersive tour that highlighted the history, culture and contributions of the county’s African American communities. The event brought residents and visitors together for a day of learning. The Office of Public Affairs produced a video to highlight the tour.

Participants experienced guided stops in Hastings, Armstrong, West Augustine, and explored the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, and Fort Mose Historic State Park.

Throughout the tour, community leaders shared stories about their historic ties to St. Johns County’s agricultural economy, desegregation of public spaces, and the Civil Rights Movement. Participants experienced guided presentations and behind-the-scenes insights that connected the county’s past with the communities shaping its future.

Ty Alexander, who recently relocated from New York, took the tour with his wife. “It was a lot of information that we didn’t know,” Alexander commented. “I think this should be a monthly thing.”

Organizers said the event aimed to deepen understanding of St. Johns County’s African American heritage, while at the same time, foster a stronger sense of community through education and storytelling.

Those who missed the tour can still explore this history by visiting Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center and Fort Mose Historic State Park, the site of the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in what is now the United States.

St. Johns County Cultural Council has also developed the Black Heritage Trail, a comprehensive guidebook for learning about the county’s rich African American history.

In addition, St. Johns County has been selected as the future home of the Florida Museum of Black History and looks forward to partnering with the State to convey the 450 plus years of experiences of Black Floridians and the African American diaspora.

Learn more about events and programs by visiting the St. Johns County Parks & Recreation web page.