{"id":15129,"date":"2023-10-27T13:42:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T17:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ameliaisland.com\/?post_type=itinerary&p=15129"},"modified":"2025-09-24T08:56:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T12:56:12","slug":"african-american-heritage","status":"publish","type":"itinerary","link":"https:\/\/www.ameliaisland.com\/itineraries\/african-american-heritage\/","title":{"rendered":"African American Heritage"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":8816,"template":"","tags":[81,68,107,126,104],"acf":{"page_intro":"Amelia Island celebrates Black History Month as an opportunity to take a look back and experience the depth of African-American history and heritage on our storied coast. From Old Town Fernandina where the Middle Passage was a stage in the route slave ships took from Africa to America, to American Beach where businessman A.L. Lewis created a safe haven for people of color to experience a judgement-free beach vacation, there are dedicated tours, historical sites and museums that tell this story to visitors of our island. Come with us as we learn, celebrate and memorialize African American history on Amelia Island. \r\n\r\n","page_footer":"
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\r\n\r\nThese suggestions are just a sneak peek of all Amelia Island has to offer as you plan your Historic Getaway. Discover more and plan your perfect trip on\u00a0www.AmeliaIsland.com<\/a> for a complete list of places to stay, eat and play. We\u2019re looking forward to seeing you back here for years to come.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","itinerary_with_categories":true,"feature_itinerary":false,"itinerary_section_with_categories":[{"section_heading":"Day One","itinerary_items":[{"item_heading":"Stay","item_description":"Check in to the\u00a0Amelia Island Williams House<\/a>\u00a0your home away from home for the next 3 days as you meander through history. Now an award-winning bed & breakfast in historic downtown Fernandina Beach, the Williams House was built in 1856 and named for Marcellus A. Williams, a wealthy surveyor. During the Civil War when Union troops occupied Fernandina and took over his residence, Williams took his family and fled until it was safe to return \u2014 upon which he became active in the Underground Railroad. It is said that Williams opened his home as a safe house for fleeing slaves and hid them there.","cta_link":"","item_image":14354},{"item_heading":"\u2018Cue For You","item_description":"Save a big appetite for lunch! Your first stop is a long-standing Amelia Island eatery that has been serving up the finest barbeque and good ol southern cooking for over 30 years. Honoring the centuries-old art of cooking meat over an open fire pit,\u00a0Island BBQ<\/a>\u00a0is a family-owned restaurant and a \u201cgo to\u201d for locals and visitors alike. If you\u2019re looking for a small town diner \u2014 big with flavor \u2014 this is your spot.","cta_link":"","item_image":""},{"item_heading":"Historic Downtown Fernandina and the Holy Gospel","item_description":"Make your way downtown for a day of shopping and sightseeing. The old\u00a0Train Depot\/ Visitor\u2019s Center<\/a>\u00a0at the foot of Centre Street harbors a wealth of knowledge about our island and it\u2019s history. Stop in and visit with the friendly staff who will send you on your way with tour information and all the \u201cmust see and do\u2019s\u201d. With a historic district of 50-plus blocks, you\u2019ll find yourself transported back in time. Downtown Fernandina Beach features 400-plus historic structures on the National Register of Historic Places. Walk by Victorian homes, commercial buildings and churches like\u00a0New Zion Missionary Baptist Church<\/a>, the second oldest and largest Black Missionary Baptist Church on Amelia Island, the lovely\u00a0Macedonia AME Church<\/a>, founded in 1872 by Samuel Irving, and\u00a0Trinity United Methodist Church<\/a>\u00a0which was erected in 1891 and served the African-American population of Amelia Island during the time of segregation in the south.","cta_link":"","item_image":""},{"item_heading":"Love is All You Need","item_description":"For good vibes, good beer and really good pizza, stop at\u00a0First Love Brewing<\/a>\u00a0to end the day. With over 20 rotating taps, First Love offers a mix of porters, IPA\u2019s and ales that pair terrifically with their house-made artisan pizzas, wings or truffle fries. Dine\/drink at the bar or grab a table indoors or outdoors for more privacy. The best part is it\u2019s right across the street from The Williams House!","cta_link":"","item_image":""}]},{"section_heading":"Day Two","itinerary_items":[{"item_heading":"Breakfast on the South End","item_description":"Enjoy a great cup of coffee and southern home-cookin\u2019 at\u00a0Bantam & Biddy<\/a>\u00a0located on the south end of the island. They serve breakfast all day so there\u2019s no rush \u2014 but get there early any way, the Fried Chicken and Cheddar Waffle is waiting for you. Add the homemade bourbon-pecan syrup to it. Trust me.","cta_link":"","item_image":""},{"item_heading":"American Beach, the Beach Lady & Coast One Tours","item_description":"Take a journey through time with\u00a0Coast One Tours<\/a>\u00a0of American Beach where your tour guide, Ron Miller (pictured above), has made it his mission (and passion) to educate and share the history of how and why American Beach and nearby Franklintown were founded. An oasis for Black beach-goers in a time when segregation and Jim Crow laws prevented them from sharing beaches, American Beach, founded by African-American businessman\u00a0A.L. Lewis<\/a>, was home to a number of restaurants, hotels, night clubs, shops and more. The resort town thrived until 1964, when Hurricane Dora devastated the area. Today, visitors can enjoy the beach, see famed NaNa dune (this dune system is the tallest in all of Florida and is amazing to see) and visit the\u00a0A. L. Lewis Museum<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about the African-Americans who found triumph over segregation and disenfranchisement. One such person is\u00a0MaVynee Betsch<\/a>, better known to all as \u201cThe Beach Lady\u201d. So much amazing history here.","cta_link":"","item_image":8825},{"item_heading":"Lunch at KP\u2019s Restaurant","item_description":"Grab lunch at\u00a0KP\u2019s Restaurant<\/a>\u00a0serving up homemade deliciousnesss including salads, their signature Swahili wings, mouth-watering sandwiches, steaks, seafood, and desserts to die for!\r\n\r\nINSIDER TIP: Their famous Wild Turkey Sandwich is made with sliced baked turkey breast, banana peppers, cheddar and cream cheese \u2014 baked and served open faced.<\/strong>","cta_link":"","item_image":""},{"item_heading":"Kingsley Plantation","item_description":"Located about 20 minutes south of American Beach, in Duval County,\u00a0Kingsley Plantation<\/a>\u00a0is one of the only examples of a plantation system in Florida today, where visitors can explore the slave quarters, kitchen house and interpretive gardens. The plantation was built in 1798 and named for early owner Zephaniah Kingsley, who lived there with his family until 1837. But the Kingsley story doesn\u2019t end there. Kingsley\u2019s wife, Anna Madgigine Jai, was a slave purchased from Senegal, West Africa. Zephaniah and Anna would become the grandparents of A.L. Lewis who would later purchase and develop American Beach!","cta_link":"","item_image":""},{"item_heading":"Dinner at Cucina South","item_description":"Cucina South<\/a>\u00a0offers fresh, authentic Italian-style cuisine featuring pasta, pizza, seafood, and an extensive beer and wine list. \u201cYears of experience culminated with a passion for food, wine and love for people!\u201d Literally everything here is good but try the Osso Buco for a mouth full of happiness. Located in Palmetto Walk Shopping Plaza on the south end of Amelia Island.","cta_link":"","item_image":""}]},{"section_heading":"Day Three","itinerary_items":[{"item_heading":"Aloha Bagel & Deli","item_description":"The bagels at\u00a0Aloha Bagel & Deli<\/a>\u00a0are so good if you close your eyes you\u2019ll think you\u2019re at your favorite NYC deli. Committed to serving only the freshest most delicious bagels, Aloha Bagel & Deli claims to be the \u201cbest little bagel shop on Amelia Island\u201d and I\u2019m pretty sure they are. Try the Nova Bagel, toasted with plain cream cheese, Nova salmon, tomatoes, capers, and onions. You won\u2019t be disappointed.","cta_link":"","item_image":""},{"item_heading":"Old Town & the Middle Passage","item_description":"As a port city, Amelia Island\u2019s history is full of stories of conquerors, pirates, merchants, and travelers. And, unfortunately, some of those stories include the dark history of human trade routes.\u00a0The Middle Passage<\/a>\u00a0was a stage in the route slave ships took from Africa to America, forcibly transporting millions of Africans to the New World. In\u00a0Old Town Fernandina<\/a>, where the original town of Fernandina is located, a Middle Passage port marker now stands commemorating those who died in the crossing and the legacy of those who survived, along with their descendants. The Gullah Geechee people, descendants of Africans brought in through the Middle Passage, recognize Fernandina Beach as the southernmost island in the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage corridor.","cta_link":"","item_image":8830},{"item_heading":"1928 \u2013 A Very Good Year","item_description":"Make your way back downtown for a delightful lunch at\u00a01928 Cuban Bistro<\/a>. From mouthwatering roasted pork to perfectly fried tostones, every dish at 1928 Cuban Bistro is a testament to the rich traditions that shaped the owners. It\u2019s all authentic Cuban cuisine, Cuban espresso, sandwiches, soups, salads, rice plates, and desserts.","cta_link":"","item_image":""},{"item_heading":"Museum Tours and Shrimping Legends","item_description":"Dedicated to the art of storytelling, the\u00a0Amelia Island Museum of History<\/a>\u00a0is the first spoken history museum in Florida. The museum focuses on local Nassau County history and the evolution of tourism, industry, and the African-American life and influence here. Each year a group of local high school students make an exhibit at the museum and this year\u2019s student exhibit features the history of local African-American schools in Nassau County \u2014 one of which is Peck High School. Learn about William H. Peck (of whom the school was named), a Howard University graduate who served as principal from 1888 until 1931 and made a huge difference in our community. The museum also mentions Amelia Island as the \u201cbirthplace of the modern shrimping industry in America.\u201d Watch the clip below on one of our local shrimping heroes, Raymond Wilson.\r\n\r\n
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<\/div>\r\n<\/section>","cta_link":"","item_image":""},{"item_heading":"Espa\u00f1a","item_description":"On your last night on Amelia Island, make reservations to dine at\u00a0Espa\u00f1a<\/a>. With flavors that hail from Spain and Portugal, Espa\u00f1a never disappoints. Enjoy each other\u2019s company (also the paella and sangria) in the cozy main dining room, on the enclosed patio or in the lush outdoor garden. Either way, Chef Roberto will make sure you leave with a full stomach and a happy heart.","cta_link":"","item_image":6058}]}],"itinerary_item":null,"search_values":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ameliaisland.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/itinerary\/15129"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ameliaisland.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/itinerary"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ameliaisland.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/itinerary"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameliaisland.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ameliaisland.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameliaisland.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}