July 9th through July13th, the AIMH welcomed 13 kids, ages 6-10 to its Move like a Timucuan summer program. Throughout the week, they learned about the lifestyle of the Timucuas, the different crops they would have grown, and how they would have collected the rest of their food. The children worked on several art projects including making baskets, creating feather mask, and sewing pouches in which they could store items for safe keeping. They also had an opportunity to visit the Atlantic Seafood Bait & Tackle shop where they learned about the various kinds of seafood caught in the area.  Allan Hallman from The Florida Fish and Wildlife commission came out with a trailer full of specimens of local animals. The kids had a great time making their own molds of animal tracks from the actual footprints of Florida wildlife, including a wild hog, coyote, bobcat, wild turkey, Florida black bear, whitetail deer, fox, and Florida panther. The week was a great success, and was enjoyed by the participants and volunteers alike.  We can’t wait until next summer!

da vinci

                 The AIMH’s Da Vinci Backpack Summer Camp wrapped up last week after a fun-filled 5 days of learning about, and creating art. The camp consisted of seven 4th-6th graders, who spent the week working in different  mediums from pencils and water colors, to charcoal, pastels and acrylic pants. The students visited Atlantic Seafood Bait & Tackle shop where they learned about the local seafood, and were able to pick out their own subjects for fish printing - generously donated by the shop. They also visited local art shops where they were exposed to the work local artists. On the final day, the students held an art show where they presented their work to friends and family.

Our Move Like a Timucuan camp begins on July 9th. Reserve your spots now! 

To sign up contact Liz at 261-7378 ext 100

Kids Construct!

The days of parents reminding their children not to touch anything in the museum are over the Amelia Island Museum of History! On June 29th, at 6:00 pm, the AIMH – with the help of special guest speaker Adrienne Burke - will open its Kids Construct Exhibit. Kids Construct is an interactive learning experience which encourages children to explore local architecture and preservation. The exhibit will feature a series of activities which allow children to take a hands-on approach to learning about historic local buildings, city planning, and the necessity of preserving our local landmarks.

 One of the Exhibit’s staples will be box city, which features a model city filled with structures designed and built by local children. The aim of box city is to foster creativity, while at the same time educating children about the various aspects of planning a city. Kids were able to use boxes to create schools, restaurants, public works, private homes, all of the institutions necessary to our community. Another station features projections of famous local buildings, creating outlines on the wall which children can replicate using kid-friendly building blocks. There will also be a board with double-sided tiles depicting a local landmark on each side. Kids will be able to flip the tiles around until they match up and create a complete image.

The mix of fun and educational activities will make learning about the physical foundations of our community enjoyable to kids. Whoever said that learning couldn’t be fun?

The Lost Tribes

The Amelia Island Museum of History invites the public to the opening of its newest temporary exhibit: Florida's Lost Tribes, on September 10th at 7 p.m. This collection, produced by St. Augustine painter Theodore Morris, resurrects the extinct Native American tribes of Florida in his work. Spending countless hours in libraries, museums and archeological digs, Morris created this striking collection by painstakingly researching the various tribes of Florida, granting the viewer a glimpse into their lives that would otherwise be impossible. His Timucuan collection will be on display at the museum from September 10 through December 28, with a special presentation and reception with Theodore Morris on the opening night.

Arrrr! Florida Pirates be Arriving Soon!

Dr. Kevin McCarthy earned his B.A. in American Literature from LaSalle College in 1963, his M.A. in English from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 1966 and his Ph.D. in Linguistics from the same school in 1970. He taught in the Peace Corps in Turkey for two years, in Lebanon as a Fulbright Professor for one year, in Saudi Arabia as a Fulbright Professor for two years, and as a professor of English and Linguistics at the University of Florida for 33 years. He has had 48 books published, including Twenty Florida Pirates, plus 43 articles in scholarly and popular journals and has given over 300 talks to schools and academic groups. In 2003 the University of Florida named him its Distinguished Alumni Professor. Since retiring from UF in 2005, he has twice taught writing workshops in Hanoi , Vietnam , and English-as-a-Foreign Language in Spain . He continues to research and write nonfiction books about Florida.

At 3rd Friday on 3rd Street he will be discussing the role of pirates along the east coast of Florida, with particular mention of Amelia Island and St. Augustine. He will also discuss the image of pirates in American culture, why they are so popular in movies and literature and what their lives were really like.

Community Appreciation Day 2010

All day FREE admission for

Nassau County Residents

Featuring a one day only natural history exhibit

and hands-on family friendly presentation at 11:00 a.m.

by a ranger from the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission.

July 17th

10:00am - 4:00pm

History of the Human Skeleton

Back by popular demand, the Amelia Island Museum of History is pleased to announce the return of Dr. Rachel Wentz presenting the History of the Human Skeleton on July 9^th at 7 p.m. The skeleton provides a framework for muscles and skin, nutrients necessary for survival, and is one of the most essential tissues of the human body. But the skeleton also plays a fundamental role in our iconography. The human skeleton has intrigued, haunted, and amazed us through time. We’ll explore the many uses of human remains and how the bones of our bodies serve as symbolism within human culture. Dr. Wentz is a lively and dynamic speaker who spoke to a packed house this past January on the Windover burial site. The museum is excited to have her back a recommends coming early for a good seat. Admission is free for museum members and $5 for nonmembers. For more information, please contact Alex at 261-7378 ext. 102.