Join us in supporting an historic initiative to preserve, celebrate, and showcase the rich heritage and contributions of African Americans in our region at the once-vibrant center of Black life: Coleman Park’s own historic Roosevelt High School.
On January 18, 2024, a groundbreaking ceremony at Coleman Park’s historic Roosevelt High School — located on Tamarind Avenue — signaled the start of a long-awaited journey to restore this historic campus and create a home for an African American Museum and Research Library. The AAMRL will become a vital resource for education, cultural enrichment, and research for our community.
The project is a collaborative effort among Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County School District, and the Community Foundation.
The School District has committed the project’s historic site, while Palm Beach County has pledged financial support for architectural design and redevelopment. These partners bring expertise and commitment to this large-scale project, which will be completed in two phases: community input and planning, and construction.
This 37,000-square-foot facility includes 17,000 square feet of renovated space and 20,000 square feet of new construction. The building will include:
- Museum-Quality Spaces: Designed for historical preservation and interactive exhibits, with modern infrastructure supporting digital archives and educational resources.
- Flexible Community Spaces: Capable of hosting cultural events, community workshops, and educational programming that fosters dialogue and cross-cultural understanding.
- Educational Resources: Offering opportunities for students, educators, and researchers to engage deeply with African American history, including access to historical records and digital archives.
Roosevelt High School holds deep historical significance as an all-Black school during segregation. Its transformation into a museum and research library marks a moment of revival and celebration for the community, with the property having been vacant for more than a decade.
The project also draws on the strength and history of the Coleman Park community, a historically significant neighborhood that was once the epicenter of Black life in West Palm Beach. Roosevelt High School was more than just an educational institution — it was a cultural beacon for African Americans, and its closure due to desegregation left a void in the community.
Now, with the AAMRL project, the campus will be revitalized, reconnecting current and future generations to their heritage while providing opportunities for education, cultural engagement, and economic revitalization.
The Community Foundation is playing a pivotal role as a “Supporting Organization” for the AAMRL project. This means the Foundation is acting as a charitable incubator for the project, providing critical support and leadership during its formative years.
In this capacity, the Community Foundation is responsible for securing financial resources, overseeing governance, and guiding strategic development to ensure the museum’s long-term success.
As the project grows, the AAMRL will eventually obtain its own 501(c)3 status as a charitable organization in its own right.
The AAMRL project is currently in Phase I, which focuses on planning, design, and demolition of the existing Roosevelt High School structure.
Architectural plans are being developed in collaboration with the School District, the County, the AAMRL Advisory Council, and the AAMRL Board of Directors. This phase is expected to be completed by the fall of 2025.
Phase II will begin thereafter, focusing on the museum’s construction and finalizing its exhibits and programming.
Volunteer leaders from Palm Beach County, the School District, the Coleman Park community and the Community Foundation are shaping the project.
Meet the AAMRL Board of Directors
Meet the AAMRL Advisory Council
Your input is essential to shaping the future of the AAMRL. We are committed to making this project a true reflection of the community's voices and aspirations. We encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas by sending your comments or questions to info@cfpbmc.org.
