Traveling Trunk

Beaches Museum is proud to offer two free options for bringing local history to the classroom. We believe injecting local illustrations into a curriculum conveys the relevance of a broader history in young peoples’ lives. When young people view history as relevant, they approach the subject with curiosity and a desire to understand.

Traveling Trunk “Tent Camps and Cracker Cabins”

The Beaches Museum Traveling Trunk “Tent Camps and Cracker Cabins” is a FREE program for local schools and educational groups to share the distinct history and culture of the Jacksonville Beaches area. We hope that students are inspired to understand how people lived from 1876 to 1900 and to think critically about how our understanding of history has changed.

The Traveling Trunk provides a variety of lessons and activities for teachers and students. All lessons and activities align with CPALMS standards.

Please register HERE.

Virtual Traveling Trunk “Case Study: Manhattan Beach, FL”

The Manhattan Beach, Florida case study brings into focus several themes in U.S. History during the immediate post-Emancipation and Jim Crow eras.

First, it demonstrates the local effects of the Supreme Court’s decision in the 1883 Civil Rights Cases when it declared that the 1875 Civil Rights Act was unconstitutional as it related to private businesses.

Second, the story of Manhattan Beach highlights the purpose of segregation. Segregation was not intended to completely remove black people from white spaces. It was intended to relegate African Americans to a second-class status

Third, Manhattan Beach demonstrates the resiliency of the black community as they created alternative, black-controlled spaces for recreation, political organization, and worship.

This case study is designed specifically for use in the 9th through 12th grade classroom. It includes a PowerPoint presentation, lecturer notes, primary sources, discussion questions, and additional resources. Lessons and activities align with American History standards as articulated by CPALMS for the State of Florida.

Please register HERE.