Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Preserve | Present | Interpret
The museum presents the historic voice of this St. Petersburg, Florida community from the perspective of local, regional, and national history, culture, and community. It is another demonstration of the commitment to revitalize the Midtown St. Petersburg area.
The museum joins Mercy Hospital at the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center, the Royal Theater Boys and Girls Club, and the renovated Manhattan Casino as evidence of the renaissance of this area.
Hours of Operation Update
Woodson Freedom School
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida is partnering with the Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation’s M.A.S.T.R.
News
Questions about the new Woodson Museum
September 23, 2023
St. Pete Catalyst
A brand-new, state-of-the art Carter G. Woodson African American Museum will be part of the Tropicana Field/historic Gas Plant District redevelopment. That much is certain.
To read more, click here.
Current Exhibit
Florida Highwaymen: The Next Generation – The Legacy Continues
When
September 2023 - December 2023
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Ray McLendon spent much of his childhood in Florida. Ray’s father, Roy McLendon was one of the original Florida Highwaymen.
As a young boy, Ray spent many summer days cutting crown molding and painting them to make them look like frames for his father’s artwork. Ray enjoyed his father’s work and would always go on the road with his father selling his paintings on the highway.
After graduating from Kutztown University with a B.A. in Social Work and moving back to Florida, Ray started painting after his father encouraged him. He has been painting the traditional Florida Highwaymen style he grew up with for over 25 years.
Although the Highwaymen were originally considered street artists, much of their work has been rediscovered and recognized for their talented Florida landscape scenes.
Ray McLendon, Orange Grove Trees
Black History Matter Mural
When
Currently on Display
Where
Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Open to the Public
What
Previously a BLACK LIVES MATTER mural, this updated mural expresses the importance of protecting Black History in the United States.
The Artists that contributed to the creation of this mural include Daniel “R5” Barojas, Miss Crit (Laura Spencer), Esh (Eric Hornsby), Cyrus Fire, Raheem Fitzgerald, John Gascot,
James E Hartzell, Vera Herrera, Plum Howlet, Jade Jackson, Reid Jenkins, Jujmo (Cheryl Weber), James Kitchens, Cam Parker, Reda3sb, Vitale Bros, Javon Walters, David Watson
T-shirts & Mural Prints
PURCHASE A T-SHIRT OR MURAL PRINT HERE
T-shirts and Black Lives Matter Mural prints are available for purchase.
Items are available for pick-up Tuesday – Friday, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Upcoming Events
Saturday Morning Yoga at The Woodson
When
Every Saturday Morning at 9 A.M.
Where
Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Mindful Movement hosts yoga sessions every Saturday morning in The Woodson’s Legacy Garden.
No registration is required.
October’s Can We Talk?
When
October 9, 2023 at 7:00 P.M.
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Join us for October’s Can We Talk? book club meeting featuring a discussion of the book,
To register, click here
How to Stop Human Trafficking Panel Discussion
When
October 12, 2023
Where
Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Join us at The Woodson on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 6:00 P.M. for a panel discussion about human trafficking and how to prevent it.
The featured panelists include:
Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers
SPPD Chief Anthony Holloway
Michelle Walker, the Executive Director of Miracles Outreach
Survivor and Activist, Telisia Espinosa
To register, click here.
Meet the Artist: October ArtWalk
When
October 14, 2023
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Join us for October’s ArtWalk to view our current exhibition, Florida Highwaymen: The Next Generation – The Legacy Continues.
Artist, Ray McLendon, will be present for discussion, and refreshments will be served.
Books, Bubbles, and Brunch featuring Micki Berthelot Morency
When
October 28, 2023
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
$20.00
What
Every month, this book club will discuss a book by a local author while mimosas and brunch are being served.
October’s featured book is The Island Sisters by Micki Berthelot Morency.
To purchase book, click here.
To register, click here.
Four women from Haiti, St. Thomas, and Guam meet at a college counseling session for first-year students and learn they have a shared history of abuse. Dubbing themselves the “island sisters,” their unyielding friendship is their touchstone across oceans, through labyrinths of forced marriages and violent men, motherhood, and their dreams of freedom.
Strong-willed and hot-headed Monique, quiet and romantic Cecilia, devout Lanei, and determined Ella are four friends who seem to make up for what the other lacks. But no matter what is happening in their lives or the struggles they face, they share an unbreakable bond of friendship that serves as their anchor, helping and supporting each other through and through.
To succeed, each woman must make choices that will challenge her long-held cultural beliefs, choices that will come with consequences, in the pursuit of her own individual freedom.
An empowering narrative told from alternating perspectives of each friend, Micki Berthelot Morency has crafted four remarkable and hard-to-forget women whose fates are bound together by culture, by history, and most importantly, by a deep, irrevocable friendship. Heartfelt and deeply moving, THE ISLAND SISTERS is an important story about hope and determination.
Micki Berthelot Morency is Haitian-American, and she lives in St. Petersburg Florida. Her publications have appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, The Weekly Challenger, print magazines and online. She recently won a Writer’s Digest contest, and her story was published in their 100th anniversary issue.
She is an advocate for women and children and her experience as a Case Manager at a transitional housing program inspired her to write her debut novel, The Island Sisters. Through her writing, she hopes to give a voice to the voiceless.
Micki is Vice President of DEI at Women Fiction Writers Association (WFWA). She’s a long-time board member of Partners With Haiti, (PWH) a local NGO with many projects in Haiti. She’s a member of many writers organizations.
St. Pete Reads! Lit Fest
When
November 4, 2023
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Cultured Books Literacy Foundation is proud to announce its 2nd annual St. Pete Reads! LitFest, presented in collaboration with the St. Petersburg Library System. The event will take place on Saturday, November 4th from 10am to 4pm at the Legacy Gardens at The Woodson African American Museum of Florida. LitFest is a family-friendly event designed to celebrate literature and creativity, with a focus on #kidlit authors. This inclusive festival provides opportunities for youth and teens alike to engage with thought-provoking authors and activities in a vibrant atmosphere.
For more information, click here.
In Partnership with American Stage: White Rabbit, Red Rabbit
When
November 18 - November 19
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
$30.00
What
In partnership with American Stage, The Woodson African American Museum of Florida is hosting “White Rabbit Red Rabbit” performances!
“White Rabbit Red Rabbit” is a play where each night a night a different performer takes on the script. There is no director, no rehearsal, no safety net. You and the actor get to go down the rabbit hole at the same time.
To purchase tickets, click here.
Save the Date | Woodson Warrior Scholarship Fundraiser
When
February 4, 2024 | 3-7 pm
Where
The Coliseum
Admission
Varies
What
Join us in supporting our Woodson Warriors Scholarship Program during this fundraiser with guest speaker Bryan Stevenson, the Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative.
Mr. Stevenson is a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. Under his leadership, EJI has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aiding children prosecuted as adults.
The Woodson Warriors Scholarship Program’s mission is to assist local African-American students with their next level of education after graduating high school.
Click here to view table and sponsorship options.