Florida: Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum

Smyrna Colony #1499 Questers is helping preserve an important chapter of New Smyrna Beach history through financial support of the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum, a unique institution dedicated to sharing the African American experience in small-town Florida.

Housed in a restored 19th-century building constructed in 1899, the museum occupies the former Sacred Heart/St. Rita Catholic Church, once a place of worship for a congregation of Black Roman Catholics. The historic building was officially opened as a museum during its Centennial Celebration on December 11, 1999, marking 100 years of the structure’s existence. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Smyrna Colony #1499’s financial support helps the museum continue its mission of preserving and interpreting this important history for future generations. Through exhibits, artifacts, educational programs and guided tours, the museum offers visitors a glimpse into African American life and race relations in New Smyrna Beach and surrounding communities throughout the 20th century, with historical information reaching back to the early 1900s.

The museum’s collection includes memorabilia and artifacts that help tell stories that might otherwise be forgotten. Although the museum itself occupies only about 600 square feet, its historical reach is much larger.

A permanent exhibit, the Heritage House, also known as the “shotgun house,” adds another dimension to the museum’s story. Located directly across the street, the house is furnished with period furniture and accessories, giving visitors an opportunity to experience the everyday environment of an earlier generation.

The museum was renamed the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum, Inc. on January 25, 2012, in honor of its founder. Today, it remains free and open to the public, welcoming visitors and students and providing a gathering place where small groups may also meet.

For Smyrna Colony #1499, supporting the museum is a meaningful way to put the Questers mission into action. By helping sustain a place where history is preserved, interpreted and shared, the chapter is helping ensure that the stories of New Smyrna Beach’s African American community remain part of the community’s living history.