ACCORD Civil Rights Museum houses a fascinating collection of artifacts, letters, photos, videos and memorabilia documenting the contributions of St. Augustine residents who risked everything in the name of equality.
In the summer of 1964, much of the world’s attention was focused on St. Augustine. It was here, in the nation’s oldest city, that a vicious battle was waged against non-violent people demonstrating in support of equal rights for all Americans. The result played a key role in motivating Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – the fundamental legislation securing equality for all U.S. citizens. Today, many of the sites where this monumental struggle took place can be visited – others are long gone. For those who want to travel back in time a mere 60 years to those tumultuous days, the ACCORD Museum and Freedom Trail is a great place to start.
Located at 79 Bridge Street, the museum was established in 2014 by ACCORD (Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations) Inc. to recognize “local heroes and sheroes” of the civil rights movement in St. Augustine. Significantly, the building was once the dentist office of Dr. Robert B. Hayling, widely recognized as the “Father of Civil Rights in St. Augustine.” Hayling, a former U.S. Air Force officer, opened his office in St. Augustine (it featured the first integrated waiting room in the city) and quickly became a leader in the local civil rights movement. In 1963, he and three other local Black residents were kidnapped and taken to a Ku Klux Klan rally where they were beaten unconscious with clubs and chains. Only the timely arrival of the State Police prevented their murders. Hayling and his companions were charged and convicted of “criminal assault” against the estimated 300 armed Klansmen. Undeterred, Hayling appealed to the national NAACP and Southern Christian Leadership council for help and set in motion the massive civil rights demonstrations of 1964.
Today, his former office houses the ACCORD Civil Rights Museum and its fascinating collection of artifacts, letters, photos, videos and memorabilia documenting the contributions of St. Augustine residents who risked everything in the name of equality. For example, the museum has the original Monson Motor Lodge sign where Reverend King was arrested; an original lunch counter stool from the Woolworth’s where Black St. Augustine residents were arrested for trying to eat at the Whites-only restaurant; and there’s Cora Tyson’s bible signed by many of the nation’s key Civil Rights leaders. Katherine “Kat” Twine’s broad-brimmed Freedom Hat is also on display – she wore it for shade when she and other Civil Rights prisoners were held in an outdoor cage. Admission is free but requires an appointment. To schedule a visit, call or text 904-347-1382.
Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center
Explore the rich history of the black experience through the many exhibits housed in the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center
The Story of Lincolnville
Founded in 1866 by former slaves, the Lincolnville Historic District is St. Augustine’s most prominent historically black neighborhood.
A Walk in African American Shoes
While the Nation’s Oldest City is best known for its Spanish heritage and history, African Americans have played a significant…
Stand anywhere in the Oldest City and chances are you are surrounded by sites related to the struggle for Civil Rights. Many have nothing to mark their existence. Fortunately, an ACCORD initiative, sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Corporation, created a Freedom Trail where 31 sites are marked with detailed signage describing the significance of the location along with an audio description available on cell phone.
Each site on the self-guided Freedom Trail tells a remarkable story – sometimes poignant, often surprising and collectively inspiring. On the Trail, there are numerous Black churches where rallies were held in 1964 – including one where Martin Luther King, Jr. and baseball Hall-of-Famer Jackie Robinson spoke. Many sites are dedicated to individuals and families, including brick steps at 167 Gault Street – all that remains of the Roberson home after it was firebombed when two of the children tried to attend the newly “integrated” Fullerwood School. Also on the Trail is the jail where civil right demonstrators were locked up, including Reverends Martin Luther King, Jr., Andrew Young and Ralph Abernathy, along with Mary Peabody, the 72-year-old mother of the governor Massachusetts, and 19 rabbis – the largest mass arrest of rabbis in American history.
A free map of the trail is available at the city’s Visitor Information Center, 10 S. Castillo Drive. A list and description of the sites can also be found on the Freedom Trail website.
“We have worked in some difficult communities, but never one as lawless as this.” Martin Luther King, Jr. description of St. Augustine in New York Times article of June 6, 1964.
King observed that St. Augustine had been made to “bear the cross,” suffering violence and brutality that helped prompt Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Racial Change and Community Crisis, by David Colburn, Columbia University Press, 1985
Accord Freedom Trail Map
Visit the historical sites of the Freedom Trail
Subscribe to Our E‑Newsletter
Get the latest travel ideas, tips, and insights from local experts.
Order Our Guide
Discover the best vacation experiences on Florida's Historic Coast.
Things to Do & Attractions
42 Miles of Beachfront Experiences
You're never at a loss for things to do on Florida's Historic Coast!
