Historic Virginia Key Beach Museum Park

Virginia Beach historical aerial 

M. Athalie Range and the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust 

Paradise Renewed: Beach revival and the formation of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust 

The founding members of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust and their backgrounds

The Virginia Key Beach Park Trust 

 View from the original shoreline of Virginia Beach. circa 1940's 

The creation of the "Oasis" 

The Golden era of Virginia Beach

The Historic Carousel during the period the beach was closed 

Changing of the Guard: From County to City and the shut down of Virginia Key Beach 

Learn about the struggles and actions taken by Black Miamians in order to create a place for their community to recreate. Everything from the historic wade in protests, the creation of Virginia Beach on August 1st, 1945, the beach downfall and the revival of this cultural and ecological gem.

Miami's First Colored Only Beach

U.S. History

Social Studies

Top (left to right): Richard Townsend, Gene Tinnie, M. Athalie Range, Miguel Germain, Mark Walters

Bottom (left to right): Eugenia Thomas , Bernice Sawyer, Maud Newbold, Dr. Enid Pinkney

The members of the trust were elected by city officials to represent the different districts of the City of Miami. Before the Historic Beach was re-opened to the public, the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust went through alot of planning in order to establish the master plan for the 82.5 acre property. Alot of the restoration work was completed with the help of local volunteer organizations to transform the property back into a park for the public. 

The founding chair of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, M. Athalie Range, was the first female black commissioner for the City of Miami as well as being a champion civil rights activist. She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to be on the AMTRAK railway governing board. With her pedigree in the City of Miami, it was clear that she was the most fit to lead the Trust. 

Former chair of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust. Gene is an aspiring artist and historian that focus on the history of the transatlantic slave trade. Mr. Tinnie still serves on the board today. Many of his influences include a yearly traditional ancestral remembrance ceremony held around the Juneteenth holiday. Gene has always held traditions, the cultural history and South Florida's native american diaspora to heart. 

A Professor of Environmental Psychology and Media Development, Mr. Townsend serves as the Vice Chair on the board today. His acheivments include extensive work with the Audobon Society as well as a director of a sea turtle and hatchery program. With a passion and dedication to South Florida's natural preservation, Mr. Townsend provides a great mindset for preserving the park's flora and fauna. 

Wife of the late Judge Lawson Thomas, Ms. Eugenia Thomas was a prominent activist along with her husband. The couple fought for equalizing salaries for black teachers as well as working to put an equal number of black representatives on jury panels. She served on the board sharing her husbands dream for a colored only beach. 

A native of Camaguey Cuba, Miguel Germain came to Miami in the same way as many others in Miami's Cuban Community.

Mark Walters is the current president of the Miami chapter of the Sierra Club. Mr. Walters also takes part in an inner city outings program that takes inner city kids and gets them to enjoy outdoor activities. The face of environmentalism for the park, you will often see him enjoying the park with organizations like outdoor afro and the Sierra Club. He currently runs a research lab for curing paralysis at the University of Miami School of Medicine. 

Ms. Newbold is a retired Dade County Public School Principal. Despite retirement, she is very active in the Deltas Sorority and anything related to improving education for inner city kids. Ms. Newbold's mindset as an educator provides a great platform for spreading the story to Miami's young community. 

Dr. Pinkney is a former president of the Dade Heritage Trust. Being the first African American Woman to hold that title. With her eye for historic preservation, she currently serves as the head of the Historic Hampton House where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. often stayed when he visited Miami.  

Ms. Sawyer was a retired school teacher in the Miami Dade Public School system. She mainly taught english in coconut grove with former alums citing her as a beacon for young students. She and her Husband Bill were also the owners of the Mary Elizabeth Hotel. With Ms. Sawyer's ties to Miami's oldest community as well as making an impact on youth. Her experiences proved invaluable to the Trust.  

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

Miami's First Colored Only Beach

The Virginia Key Beach Park Trust

Background Knowledge

Founding members of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust