St. Johns Commission Briefed on Black History Museum Status

The foundation has yet to be poured for the proposed Florida Museum of Black History, but the groundwork is already being laid for its success.

At a meeting this week, St. Johns County commissioners received an update on the project from Howard Holley, a member of the Foundation for the Museum of Black History. Holley is also CEO of Evolve Communications Group and publisher of EVOLVE News.

Holley began his remarks acknowledging the county’s role in promoting St. Johns County/St. Augustine as the home of the museum.

“I want to start with a thank you for your unanimous support for the museum being here,” he said. “That really set the stage for where we are today.”

Holley said the essence of the museum is to preserve the past, uplift the present and inspire the future.

“They are lofty goals, but they can be achieved by collaboration and partnership,” he said. He went on to say the Foundation is in the process of expanding its board of directors from the current 12 members to 22 “to make sure we’ve got the expertise and skills we need and also to help us cover the geography of the state.”

Holley said while reporting on the status of the museum has focused on a singular facility, plans are for a campus of three buildings including a performing arts center and an education center, as well as the museum space itself.

“We know the state will provide funds for the construction of the museum,” he said. “We don’t think it will be all that is needed.”

The state appropriated $1 million for the project during the 2025 Legislative Session and an additional $1 million is included in the 2026-27 state budget. Holley said with rising construction costs and delays in Tallahassee to formally confirm St. Johns County/St. Augustine as the site for the museum, the primary focus of the Foundation right now is on fundraising.

“The longer we wait, the more it will cost,” he said. “Fundraising will launch when legislation has cleared both (state legislative) chambers and signed into law by the governor.”

Holley said one of the efforts underway is to promote the regional significance of the museum across the state and among the adjacent counties in Northeast Florida.

“We think this could be a huge impact to our region and to the state,” he said, adding the Foundation is seeking capacity funding of $125,000 from St. Johns County.

At the behest of Chair Clay Murphy, commissioners agreed to have county staff look at the funding recommendation and bring it back to the board for a final decision.