Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum, New Smyrna Beach

About Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum

The Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum in New Smyrna Beach preserves and displays photographs, oral histories, memorabilia, and artifacts documenting African American life and race relations in small-town Florida during the twentieth century. Visitors explore exhibits featuring personal accounts from the early 1900s to the present, with photos and oral histories that illustrate both hardships and triumphs of the community. The museum occupies the historic Sacred Heart/St. Rita church building, constructed in 1899, serving as the cornerstone of the Historic West Side neighborhood. The museum hosts the annual Black Heritage Festival, which features culturally rich music, food, and arts-and-craft vendors, as well as Kwanzaa celebrations featuring traditions, storytelling, and cultural heritage experiences. The facility is ADA compliant and welcomes groups and school field trips by reservation. General admission is free, with donations welcome. Non-flash photography for personal use is permitted. The museum is located at the corner of North Duss and Mary Streets in New Smyrna Beach.