ACCORD Civil Rights Museum — Attraction in Saint Augustine

During my recent visit to St. Augustine, I happened to walk past this museum and decided to go in. I am so glad I did. The tour begins with a short film that explains the history of the building and its place in the civil rights movement - eye opening and very informative. If you do nothing but watch the video, your time will have been well spent. The collection of items is not very large, but the items are very meaningful. One can see everything in about thirty minutes. Moreover, it is the building itself that is incredibly significant - the first integrated dental office in Florida and the place where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Andrew Young, and a host of other civil rights leaders met and planned the civil rights movement. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was formulated in that building. The people running the museum grew up in the civil rights movement and their personal recollections and stories are worth the visit....

OMG ! Both from the UK, I stumbled across this gem with my friend on a Tuesday afternoon 28 January. Starting with the video which explained the historical context of the civil rights movement in Jacksonville, through to the intensely 'human' exhibits - the doll, the freedom hat, the story of Dr King Jr's fingerprints - I was totally blown away. Sitting in the same rooms, touching the Woolworth's lunch stool and even looking at the same doors and through the same windows as those exceptional men and woman. The young woman who was in charge at the museum & her dad were welcoming and generously willing to share their knowledge and enthusiasm. Meeting them meant I was literally 3 handshakes away from Dr King Jr himself - 🤯. I carry the experience forever - just as we discussed 'I thank you for...

If you're going to be in St Augustine and have any interest in Civil Rights history, this is not to be missed. The amount of information and history contained within this small museum was amazing. We never realized there had been so much civil rights activity and history in St Augustine. Be sure to see the video before looking at all the items on display, including a bible signed by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. When we arrived we were the only ones there, and the folks there were very friendly and knowledgeable and provided information even beyond what was shown in the displays. The most amazing fact: that local white residents (including KKK members) would sit in an integrated waiting room to have their dental work done by a black dentist. Definitely...