Amelia Island Attractions 
32 mi. north-east of Jacksonville is Amelia Island (pop. 15,000), an exclusive holiday island of coral limestone that has become a frequent venue of major tennis tournaments. In the north-west of the island is the very attractive bathing resort of Fernandina Beach. At its northern tip is Fort Clinch, built in 1847. Perhaps the most beautiful holiday resort on the island is the Amelia Island Plantation, with an enchanting 12 mi. long beach, a golf course and a variety of facilities for water sports.
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.
