RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
Go there and contact
Museum with a theater in Jacksonville, among those tracing the history of African Americans, through permanent exhibits
Located in the LaVilla neighborhood, once dubbed the Harlem of the South, the 400-seat theater, and its museum, was originally a former movie theater opened in 1929. During the segregationist years, the neighborhood also attracted all kinds of new migrants, from Russians to Cubans. Rebuilt in 1999, the museum has now become one of the major museums of African American history, primarily in Jacksonville, and is certainly one of the most interesting cultural sites in the city. Jacksonville was a crucial stage in the struggle for civil rights in the United States. Elegant, its Art Deco style plunges you directly into the atmosphere of the jazz parties held here in the 1960s, when Billie Holiday or Sarah Vaughan walked through the door of the huge hall with its burgundy carpeting and cream walls. An exceptional place to understand the influence of the African-American community on contemporary Florida. It is an emotional and authentic place to take an enriched look at the history of Jacksonville. Permanent exhibits trace the history and legacy of African American artists and the community, including a life-size replica of the milestones and core values that kept them from being alienated. You'll see paintings as well as many historical and collectible artifacts. It is a whole part of American history that is told to you.
