- Jul 14
- 2 min read
A New Era for the Museum
The Woodson Museum African American Museum of Florida in St. Pete celebrated a momentous milestone this week, marking its 20th anniversary with the grand reopening of its facility. Following a six-month, $1 million renovation project, the museum has emerged as a beacon of cultural preservation. It’s a declaration of intent to show the complex narrative of African American history in Florida and the nation.
Visitors can now explore an array of compelling exhibits that bridge the gap between the past and present. Featured collections include "Unsettling History: 1600-1850," which highlights the road to freedom in Florida, and "Continuing Debates: 1900 to Today." The museum is also hosting the Smithsonian exhibition, "Many Voices, One Nation: Our Community," which explores national narratives alongside local stories
Terri Scott, Executive Director of the Woodson Museum, emphasized that this journey was long in the making.
"A story did not begin 20 years ago; it began with courageous people who persevered through unimaginable injustice," Scott stated. Reflecting on the museum’s purpose, she added, "It is simply reparations and preparation for an even greater vision, a vision of Florida's first purpose-built African American museum.”
"Some generations are called to dream, some are called to be built, some are called to preserve; this generation, however, has been called to do all three,” Scott says.
The significance of the museum's location was a recurring theme throughout the reopening ceremony. Dr. Rene Flowers, President of the Pinellas County Association of County Commissioners, spoke movingly about the ground the museum occupies.
"We are standing on hallowed ground," Flowers noted, recalling the contributions of community leaders like her grandmother, whom she affectionately called 'Big Momma'. She spoke of a history before formal aid organizations existed, where community members "clothed and fed the elderly on this hallowed ground.”
Promises Made
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch connected the museum’s reopening to the broader political and historical context of the city. He addressed the long-standing community memory of the historic gas plant displacement.
"Remember the promises made when the historic gas plant was taken away," Welch said, stressing the importance of this museum as a fulfillment of those long-overdue commitments. He signaled a move toward tangible action, noting, "It’s been 40 years of promises, and that is a minimum $10 million investment in that new museum, and we’re going to keep doing that.”
The newly renovated Woodson African American Museum is located at 2240 9th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712.
