Written by Genevieve Bowen on January 14, 2026
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A decades-delayed museum dedicated to Black history and Miami’s civil rights movement at Virginia Key Beach is moving forward, with the City of Miami pledging up to $17 million to fund operations during the first 10 years after construction.
At their Jan. 8 meeting, city commissioners authorized the city manager to negotiate an agreement with the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust to advance the Black history museum, first approved and funded more than 20 years ago. Under the agreement, the city is to design and construct the museum and provide up to $1.7 million per year to cover operational shortfalls for a decade after transferring the project to the trust.
The museum is designed to honor Virginia Key Beach Park’s role in civil rights and celebrate Miami’s Black history, culture and community. The park was created in 1945 after a protest at Baker’s Haulover Beach, when Miami’s Black residents waded into the waters and demanded access to the county’s White-only beaches. The establishment of a Black-only beach at Virginia Key marked an early and significant victory in the civil rights movement in South Florida.
In 2000, the Virginia Key Beach Civil Rights Task Force was formed following citizen protests against plans to develop a private ecotourism resort on the site, setting the stage for a museum. In 2004, voters approved taxpayer funding for the project, and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs authorized $20.5 million in grants for the design and construction of the museum.
The project faced delays over the next two decades due to leadership disputes and financial concerns. Momentum was renewed in April 2023, when the city authorized a contract with Lord Cultural Resources to provide master planning and business consulting services for the museum, creating a comprehensive plan to turn the museum from a concept into an actionable operational project.
In January 2025, the trust approved the museum’s business and concept plans and reported ongoing collaboration with Miami-Dade County to conclude the grant agreement and release and advance funds for the project.
Under the new agreement, the city will oversee all aspects of the museum’s construction, including design, procurement, permitting and inspections. The trust will participate in design reviews at key milestones of 30%, 60%, 90% and 100% of completion and provide written feedback to ensure alignment with operational needs.
Upon final completion, the trust is to manage daily operations, including programming, staffing, exhibits and routine maintenance.
The agreement guarantees city support for operational shortfalls for the first 10 years after turnover, capped at $1.7 million per year. Annual budgets are to be reviewed and reconciled, with any overpayment returned to the city. After the 10-year period, the trust is to assume responsibility for standard maintenance, while the city is to remain responsible for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural repairs.
Local activist Cecilia Stewart spoke in support of the museum at the Jan. 8 commission meeting. “The Virginia Key Beach Museum will bring to Miami a long-lasting history of education, civic participation and years of cultural and historical endeavors,” she said, adding that it will “serve to illustrate and celebrate the stories, heritage and culture of the African-American community.”