Palm Beach County Black Cultural Heritage Trail Unveiled

A new self-guided tour commemorating Black historical sites across Palm Beach County is opening to the public just in time for Black History Month.

The Palm Beach County Black Cultural Heritage Trail is a dynamic project that will continue to be added to by the many historians involved in seeing it through to fruition after years of collaboration.

“African Americans have played a pivotal and indelible role in shaping Florida’s history, particularly in Palm Beach County,” said Brian Knowles of Power Builders, an educator, historian and community advocate who contributed to the project. “From the post-slavery era to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, their contributions have been instrumental in the region’s social, cultural and economic development.”

The concept is similar to others like it that have launched in cities nationwide. Travelers can visit palmbeachculture.com/bcht, where they will find details of a dozen historic sites across the county, complete with archival images and details of the site’s significance.

Stops on the tour include Roosevelt Junior Senior High School West Palm Beach, which was one of the county’s first all-Black high schools. Sites also include the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach, St. Paul AME Church in Boynton Beach, Sunset Lounge and the Storm of ’28 Memorial Park in West Palm Beach, the Lawrence E. Will Museum in Belle Glade and Powell’s Battle Marker and Jesup’s Battle Marker at Riverbend Park in Jupiter.