Friends of Marion County Black History Museum, Inc.

05/27/2026

Come check us out! History lives here!!!
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05/26/2026

❤️🖤💛💚 Did You Know? John Wesley Bostick was the first African American Mayor of Dunnellon. He was also the first black City Councilmember as well as the first black police officer of Dunnellon.

Fun Fact: Elected Office- Bostick served an unprecedented 18 consecutive years as a City Council member, holding the record as the town's longest-serving elected official.

Fun Fact: Law Enforcement - Prior to his political career, he was a lifelong resident who worked as an officer for the Dunnellon Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Fun Fact: “John Bostick Day" - On May 1, 1994, Dunnellon Mayor Larry Winkler declared a surprise "John Bostick Day" at the Dunnellon American Legion Post, where over 200 residents and officials honored him for his deep-rooted community impact.

❤️🖤💚💛 Visit the Marion County Black History Museum to learn about other impactful men and women in or from Marion County!

05/22/2026

05/20/2026

Florida Emancipation Day is reserved annually on May 20 to commemorate the end of slavery. It marks the exact date in 1865 when Union General Edward M. McCook read the Emancipation Proclamation from the steps of the Knott House in Tallahassee, officially declaring enslaved people in Florida to be free.

❤️💚🖤💛photos below found on Instagram. Photos taken by Roswell Allen Studios, Ocala Florida 1928-1932. Likely an Emancipation Day Celebration. *Color added to photos

❤️💚🖤💛Please Watch, Before Juneteenth Florida’s Emancipation By Emancipation Florida: https://youtu.be/XDK8mtm9V4o?si=8xPoGdg9EPXSvZKJ

❤️💚🖤💛News Articles: The Ocala Evening Star, December 31, 1900 & The Ocala Evening Star, December 02,1919

05/19/2026

New Museum Hours!!!! Come check us out…we’d love to see you!

05/18/2026

Florida Emancipation Day, May 20!

05/18/2026

Florida Emancipation Day is celebrated annually on May 20, marking the day in 1865 when Union General Edward M. McCook announced the Emancipation Proclamation in Tallahassee, effectively freeing enslaved people in Florida.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation was effective January 1, 1863, it was not enforced in Florida until after the Civil War ended in May 1865.

Juneteenth (June 19) is a federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the U.S., honoring the date in 1865 when Union Soldiers informed Galveston, Texas’ enslaved of their freedom.

The June celebration of freedom further re-enforces that, “No one is free until everyone’s free” quoted by Fannie Lou Hamer. This quote emphasizes that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!

05/16/2026

NAACP Marion County 2nd Annual Education Day on Saturday August 8, 2026, 10 – 1 pm at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place. Please join us for a great Education Day, filled with educational information, fun activities, meaningful conversations and food!

We are in looking for vendors who provide Educational, Community Services and sellers. We are requesting that you share the flyer and vendor information with family, friends and businesses.
Contact us at [email protected]