American Beach: A Legacy of Black Luxury, Freedom & Healing

A. L. Lewis: Black Business Titan and Beach Visionary

In 1935, Abraham Lincoln “A.L.” Lewis, Florida’s first Black millionaire and president of the Afro‑American Life Insurance Company, purchased more than 200 oceanfront acres on Amelia Island to create American Beach—a place of “recreation and relaxation without humiliation” for Black families during Jim Crow segregation

A Black Ocean Playground of Sophistication & Joy

• During the 1930s–1950s, American Beach became a luxury resort destination where affluent Black middle-class families built summer homes, walked on pristine sands, and dined with celebrities like Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Billie Daniels, Hank Aaron, and Ossie Davis .

• It was known affectionately as “The Negro Ocean Playground,” with nightclubs, hotels, restaurants, and a vibrant community where respect and elegance reigned.

From Jim Crow Haven to Quiet Decline

• After the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, Black travelers gained access to formerly segregated beaches—diminishing the unique necessity of American Beach.

• That same year, Hurricane Dora devastated much of the community. Many owners lacked resources or chose to leave, leading to abandonment and property loss.

The Beach Lady & the Museum of Memory

• A.L. Lewis’s great‑granddaughter MaVynee “The Beach Lady” Betsch returned in the late 1970s as a preservationist, environmentalist, and activist. She gave tours, lived in a chaise longue on the sand, and fought for American Beach’s legacy even after selling her fortune to protect the community.

• Her efforts eventually led to the creation of the A. L. Lewis Museum (formerly American Beach Museum) in 2014, keeping the stories of culture, elegance, and resistance alive.

What American Beach Offers Today—and What’s Next

• The historic district, listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 2002, now includes roughly half of its original acreage, preserved by descendants and passionate advocates.

• While the resort’s peak is in the past, the remaining American Beach community is loved, attended, and reclaimed during annual events, walking tours, and museum programs led by the A. L. Lewis Historical Society.

• Preservationists continue rebuilding and protecting its shoreline, and efforts by National Park Service and local groups explore historic landmark status and future restoration support.

American Beach: Why It Still Matters to Us

American Beach symbolizes Black excellence, rest, and dignity in an era when those were denied. It was a place where community wealth, leisure, and cultural pride thrived—until integration and disaster threatened its existence. Now, thanks to descendants and preservationists, it's coming back as a living landmark, an inspiration, and a reminder of what’s possible when we build with intention, freedom, and vision.

Check out the video with Peri Frances, A.L. Lewis' great-great-granddaughter (click here)