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So You Think You Know Jax Music?
Jacksonville, FL, September 6, 2023 – The Jacksonville Historical Society and History Center will open its next music history pop-up exhibit at Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History (MOSH) on Sunday, September 10. Titled, So You Think You Know Jax Music?, the exhibit premiered in July at The Beaches Museum, then made an appearance at the Taco & Tequila Festival over Labor Day weekend. The traveling exhibit is curated by the historical society’s interim archivist, Emily Cottrell; history interns from the University of North Florida; the historical society’s oral histories coordinator, Justin P. Case; and volunteers in the organization’s archive, research and library departments.
At MOSH, the exhibit will be located on the second floor and will run through November 30, 2023. “Providing Northeast Florida with unique and engaging educational opportunities about our region’s cultural history is tantamount to the MOSH mission; so, we are thrilled to showcase this exhibit in partnership with Jacksonville Historical Society and History Center,” said MOSH’s VP of Education and Exhibits, Dr. Anthony Mortimer.
While some of the exhibit’s elements will remain the same as it travels from venue to venue, other parts will be changed to reflect the music history of the location of the venue. For example, items that focused on the music scene at the beaches will be replaced to include downtown Jacksonville music history.
The Jacksonville Historical Society’s oral history team has spent the past three years interviewing people in the music industry, from singer/songwriters to music educators, owner/operators of music venues, and more. Sound bites from many of the oral histories are included in the exhibits, as is a selection of music from a variety of genres.
At the August 6 closing reception at The Beaches Museum, several of the oral history participants and donators of music memorabilia were on hand to share stories about their involvement in Jacksonville’s music scene. Keith “Jughead” Johnson, former road manager of the band Molly Hatchet 1978-1984 and manager for Gator Country 2003-2009, was one of the first in the Jacksonville music industry to provide an oral history for the future music history museum; he has also loaned items for the traveling exhibit and, down the road, for the museum. Music at the Jacksonville History Center, 314-318 Palmetto Street, is tentatively planned for a 2025 opening in the 103-year-old former Florida Casket Company building.
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About The Jacksonville Historical Society/Jacksonville History Center
The Jacksonville Historical Society, established in 1929, serves the public by maintaining an archival repository of documents, photographs, rare books, and architectural artifacts relating to Jacksonville-area history. With offices located in the Old St. Luke’s Hospital building on Palmetto Street, the society supports restoration, renovation or adaptive re-use of Jacksonville’s historic structures; offers educational programs on a variety of Jacksonville history topics, creates historic exhibits for a variety of venues, and leads walking tours, among many other activities. The Jacksonville Historical Society manages the Jacksonville History Center, which is composed of Old St. Luke’s Hospital and the former Florida Casket Company building on the Palmetto Street campus, as well as two City of Jacksonville properties, Old St. Andrew’s Church and the James E. Merrill House Museum, both located on A. Philip Randolph Blvd.
About The Museum of Science & History (MOSH)
The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) is located at 1025 Museum Circle near Friendship Park. MOSH, first chartered in 1941, inspires the joy of lifelong learning by bringing to life the sciences and regional history. Admission is $19.95 for adults; $16.95 for youth, students, active and retired military and seniors. There is no admission fee for children 2 and under or Museum Members. Learn more at themosh.org.
Museum funding is provided in part by the City of Jacksonville and the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, Inc.; State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; and the National Endowment for the Arts; Historic Museums Grants-in-Aid Program assistance provided by the Bureau of Historical Museums, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, Secretary of State.
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