LaVilla Museum facts for kids
The LaVilla Museum is a special place in Jacksonville, Florida. It's a museum that teaches about the history and culture of African American people. The museum is located inside the old Ritz Theater, which was built in 1929. The LaVilla Museum first opened its doors in 1999.
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Discovering African American History
The LaVilla Museum helps visitors learn about the lives of people of African descent in northeast Florida. This includes their history before Florida became a U.S. state in 1845. The museum also focuses on the LaVilla neighborhood in downtown Jacksonville.
LaVilla: A Special Neighborhood
LaVilla was once a very busy and important African American community. Many talented poets, artists, musicians, authors, and playwrights lived there. Because of all this creativity, LaVilla was often called "the Harlem of the South." The Ritz Theatre is one of the few original buildings left in this historic neighborhood. Even though most of the 600-seat theater was taken down in the 1990s, a part of the building from 1929 is still there.
What You'll See Inside
One of the most exciting parts of the museum is seeing the lifelike figures of James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson. These two brothers were born in LaVilla and wrote the famous song, "Lift Every Voice and Sing." The museum uses special moving figures, called animatronics, to bring them to life.
As you walk through the museum, you'll see rooms that look like they did in the 20th century. There's a typical home living room, a Christian church, a barber shop, and a school room. These displays help you imagine what life was like for African Americans during that time.
See also
