The Amelia Island History Museum, housed in the former Nassau County Jail, features nine exhibit areas exploring 4,000 years of life on the water’s edge here on Amelia Island. The museum’s exhibits represent Amelia Island’s unique history under 8 different flags, beginning with the native Timucua to the arrival of Europeans, culminating with a look at Amelia Island now. Enjoy engaging with our interactive displays and wandering through our Temporary Exhibit Gallery, which features a new exhibit each quarter. In addition, children will enjoy the Margery, where they can learn about the pirate way of life.
Outside of our exhibit rooms, we offer numerous educational and entertaining walking tours which will take you out into downtown Fernandina. Twice monthly we present educational and topical programs in Baker Hall, upstairs in the Museum. Summer Camps for several age groups are also available in June. Explore below to see what might interest you and your family!
OUR PERMANENT EXHIBITS
Step back in time and share our stories. Follow our history from the Paleo-Indians, through the arrival of the Europeans, our part in the Civil War, and finally to current day and what makes Amelia Island so special.
Docent-led 8 Flags Tours take place daily at the Museum and are included in the price of admission – Monday through Saturday at 11 am and 2 pm, Sunday at 2 pm.
FEATURED EXHIBIT
Our featured exhibits, located in our Temporary Exhibit Gallery, are updated quarterly. Each calendar year starts with a theme, and four quarterly exhibits are created, following that theme. The spring exhibit is generally imagined, designed and created by Nassau County high school students.
VIRTUAL TOURS
Explore our museum in an entirely new way. Take a virtual walk through our Victorian Artifacts Collection showcasing fascinating pieces from the Victorian Era. Visit our YouTube channel for virtual lectures presented by historians, authors, and other experts at our 3rd on 3rd and Brown Bag lecture series.
VOLUNTEER HISTORY GARDEN
Take a stroll through our Volunteer History Garden, which contains historically relevant trees and plants, as well as region specific flora. Opened in 2015, the garden is located in the back of our museum and is named in honor of the many volunteers who have dedicated their time and talents researching and planting the garden. Learn how native plants provided medicinal value to native Timucuans and how the Dogfennel plant was used by Gregor McGregor and his men as a natural insect repellent. Discover how the Indigo plant was used by the British to make a deep blue or purple dye that was highly sought after by European nobility. In addition to the year-round plants on display the garden also features a seasonal section of changing flora. The garden is our secret treasure that you don’t want to miss.
TOURS
The Amelia Island Museum of History is the first spoken history museum in the state. We continue that story-telling tradition both inside and outside the Museum. Get outside with us and choose from six fabulous choices to spend a little more time learning about our magical place at the water’s edge. Be a little bit serious and learn about our stunning architectural past, stroll Centre Street or the ‘Gilded Age’ north side of town. Take a more light-hearted approach (but still learn some cool history) by opting for a Pub Crawl, a Ghost Tour, or stories of Murder and Mayhem.
LEARN
The Amelia Island Museum offers year-round opportunities for all age groups. School Groups come to the Museum to tour exhibits and engage in educational projects. We also customize experiences for adult groups who want to learn a bit more about history here on our fabulous island.
Our renowned, themed, children Summer Camps offer week-long experiences for several age groups.
Additionally, we offer internships (generally 8-12 weeks) for college or graduate students in all significant areas of Museum work.