Frederick Douglass Black Educators memorial project schedules grand opening Aug. 28–30, organizers say

John Wilson Smith, president of the Frederick Douglass School Black Educators Memorial Project, told the Redevelopment Advisory Committee that the project is scheduling a grand opening the weekend of Aug. 28–30, with public hours expected from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. He said the museum will highlight Key West history and "untold stories" tied to the island’s Black community and its early settlers.

The museum’s opening is timed to connect with the Aug. 28 observance of the 1963 March on Washington, Smith said, and organizers are soliciting volunteers to serve as docents. "We are very excited about it," he said, adding that the project remains "in a holding pattern for a little more funds so that we could really make this a world class presentation." Smith asked for community patience as staff complete exhibit materials and finalize schedules.

The project will be hosted at the Douglass Community Center, and Smith urged local residents and volunteers to get involved. Commissioner Tricia Eebels thanked Smith for the detailed business plan and said she appreciated the level of preparation; Eebels told the board she had put the Aug. 28 date on her calendar.

Why it matters: The museum is an explicitly local effort to document and display parts of Key West’s Black history organizers say have been previously overlooked. A neighborhood opening and volunteer roster could help preserve local artifacts and build public programming in Bahama Village and adjacent districts.

Organizers and the committee agreed to circulate more details ahead of the workshop and public events; Smith said volunteers and youth docents are welcome and that the project would share contact information for those who want to help. The committee did not vote on funding at the meeting; the museum’s staff said they are continuing fundraising and plan to provide further updates at upcoming City/CRA events.

The advisory committee listed the project on its meeting agenda and the manager said the CRA will track any requests for support in the workshop packet.