Amelia Island - American Beach

American Beach was the first beach in Florida set aside for the enjoyment of African Americans. It was established in 1935 by A.L. Lewis, who founded Jacksonville's Afro-American Life Insurance Company and went on to become one of the nation's first African American millionaires. Incredibly popular during the days of segregation, American Beach quickly grew into a 200-acre resort area, frequented by thousands of black vacationers in the 1940s and 1950s. It was one of the few recreational spots they could call their own.