The Amelia Island Museum of History is located
at the corner of Cedar and South Third Streets.
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     The museum officially reopened on May 12 to showcase the new exhibits. Phase Two of the restoration project will begin shortly and concentrate on the second floor. The new look at the Amelia Island Museum of History was made possible from local volunteer efforts and a Capital Campaign from the local patrons in our community. 
     There are many new and exciting areas of the museum that add to telling about life in and around Nassau County. In celebrating Nassau County and its early roots here the exhibits include boat building, shrimping, the timber industries, the railroad system, resort areas, tourism, Spanish missions, and waterways. There are also exhibits on the Civil War and how it impacted Amelia Island, as well as Native American life in our local area.
     Local volunteers portray historical characters of the past during speaking tours. Visitors are now able to push a button to hear residents of Old Town tell what it was like living in Fernandina back in the 1830's. An entire room is dedicated to the history of Nassau County.  There is also a small theatre on the first floor to showcase local documentaries and stories. 

The museum's grand re-opening festivities
included children dressed in period costumes.
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     If you have ever wondered what the island was like when there were pirates here, or wondered what Victorian home life was all about, then take an Eight Flags Tour, which explores 4,000 years of Amelia Island history. This is a speaking tour of three rooms celebrating three eras of local culture. The tour settings include the Timucuan Village - which will give information about the Indians, French, British and the Spanish; the docks at Old Town - which focuses on the pirates; and the Victorian Parlor - which presents a genuine Victorian room. All the tour settings are authenticated with smells and sights to provide a realistic image of the past.

    
Left: The mural in the Victorian Period Room shows life scenes from that era.
Right: Susan Little and Ron Bork stand in front of a timeline of local history under eight different flags. The model in the foreground depicts Fort San Carlos and the original site of Fernandina in 1821.
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     The Amelia Island Museum of History would not be able to succeed without the many volunteers from the community who have entrusted the museum to tell the rich history of our town. When funds were scarce, volunteers came forth to fill in the gaps and continue with the restoration project.  Many people from the area have had a hand in this community-wide project.  Currently, the museum has four full-time employees and approximately 150 volunteers. The staff includes people with masters degrees in history, knowledge of Florida history and Civil War experts.
     A very effective feature of the new museum exhibits is the design of the display walls. The new walls allow for information to be changed and updated frequently, thereby adding variety to the exhibits - something that should entice local people to return to the museum often to explore new presentations. Every time someone visits the Amelia Island Museum of History, they will see different topics of the rich cultural history of the area.

Volunteer Jan Davis talks with patrons
in the Nassau County Room.
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     Discounted admissions will be offered for a period of time so that local residents can come and experience the new museum exhibits. The discounted prices will be $5 for adults and $3 for students. Regular prices are $7 and $5. The price of admission to the museum includes the Eight Flags Tour, held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
     The museum is also excited to announce a new signature item - a poster entitled "Doors of Amelia" which features doorways of many historic homes and buildings on Amelia Island. The cost of the poster is $20 including tax.
     The Amelia Island Museum of History is located in downtown Fernandina Beach in the old Nassau County Jail at the corner of Cedar and Third Streets. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
For more information, contact the museum at (904) 261-7378.