Attractions in Jacksonville...we need way more.

[Ken_FSU]

Might be a wildly unpopular opinion, but I don't think a Southern Rock museum is a particularly good idea. In theory, yes. In execution, no. It's a one-time visit for locals, a questionable tourist draw giving the rapidly aging audience that Southern Rock history appeals to (45-75, I'd guess), and an ethical gray area in terms of some of the iconography and "Southern Pride" mentality that I wouldn't want to closely associate with as a city. From a financial perspective, there just isn't the mainstream interest in Southern Rock like there is with the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame or Country Music Hall of Fame. I think it'd have a great first year, and then flatline.

To me, it would make more sense as exhibit space in the proposed Hard Rock Hotel (assuming it happens one day), or a Southern Rock Hall of Fame type of installation within a large live music & entertainment venue.

[thelakelander]

^Ken, you've provided a potential financial solution for "museums" of the future. Incorporating nonrevenue producing items like museum exhibits into spaces that generate revenue, that may also share a similar cultural or historical theme.

[Charles Hunter]

How is The Big House Museum, the Allman Brothers Band museum, in Macon?

[Aristocles]

Never been to the Big House museum but it gets very good reviews. Also as Lakelander said about revenue generation it has a rental space for income.

I think these museums should not be paid for with tax revenue but by philanthropy from anyone interested. The recording industry, business groups, Black churches, whomever. As for me, I love stories like that of Robert Reed Church Sr. from Memphis. Known as the first Black American millionaire, he learned business principles working on Mississippi River riverboats until he became valuable as a manager. Later, when Memphis suffered its malaria epidemics he bought valuable real estate at low prices and held on to the properties as their values increased when the epidemics subsided. With his wealth he funded lots of infrastructure and philanthropic ventures. I'm wondering if there is a place where people like him, Black geniuses who did the "firsts" - first Black-owned bank, auto dealership, insurance company, etc. - are honored. Also I think Great Migration Communities is a better title than Freedman's towns, which is more specific and limited.

If the Ritz Theatre is a go then let's see how it does. It sounds good.

Who is underwriting the financing of the new MOSH building? Is that a certainty or still just a possibility?

[Aristocles]

Just found out MOSH raised $95 million, public and private, for the new Northbank facility.

[Downtown Osprey]

Might be a wildly unpopular opinion, but I don't think a Southern Rock museum is a particularly good idea. In theory, yes. In execution, no. It's a one-time visit for locals, a questionable tourist draw giving the rapidly aging audience that Southern Rock history appeals to (45-75, I'd guess), and an ethical gray area in terms of some of the iconography and "Southern Pride" mentality that I wouldn't want to closely associate with as a city. From a financial perspective, there just isn't the mainstream interest in Southern Rock like there is with the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame or Country Music Hall of Fame. I think it'd have a great first year, and then flatline.

To me, it would make more sense as exhibit space in the proposed Hard Rock Hotel (assuming it happens one day), or a Southern Rock Hall of Fame type of installation within a large live music & entertainment venue.

Totally agree with this. Many (myself included) were so sad when Freebirds closed it's doors. I think you would need a hybrid of museum and music venue. It would be awesome to have a Freebirds 2.0 that also included the southern rock history aspect. It already has a recognizable name both locally and nationally. It would be perfect.

[Ken_FSU]

Might be a wildly unpopular opinion, but I don't think a Southern Rock museum is a particularly good idea. In theory, yes. In execution, no. It's a one-time visit for locals, a questionable tourist draw giving the rapidly aging audience that Southern Rock history appeals to (45-75, I'd guess), and an ethical gray area in terms of some of the iconography and "Southern Pride" mentality that I wouldn't want to closely associate with as a city. From a financial perspective, there just isn't the mainstream interest in Southern Rock like there is with the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame or Country Music Hall of Fame. I think it'd have a great first year, and then flatline.

To me, it would make more sense as exhibit space in the proposed Hard Rock Hotel (assuming it happens one day), or a Southern Rock Hall of Fame type of installation within a large live music & entertainment venue.

Totally agree with this. Many (myself included) were so sad when Freebirds closed it's doors. I think you would need a hybrid of museum and music venue. It would be awesome to have a Freebirds 2.0 that also included the southern rock history aspect. It already has a recognizable name both locally and nationally. It would be perfect.

A+++++ idea.

Love this, and I too deeply miss Freebirds.

[Aristocles]

Well, you know the story about how Led Zeppelin got its name? Robert Plant and Jimmy Page were standing in Keith Moon's driveway saying they were going to name their band The New Yardbirds. Moon said that name would fly as well as a lead zeppelin.
So, let's call the new combined venue/music museum The New Freebirds. 

[Aristocles]

As The Stylistics sang, let's put it all together...

Put The New Freebirds venuseum at Lot J. There you go.

[Jankelope]

If only the people who commented on the JAXSON forums were all "benevolent billionaires"

[Jankelope]

Okay so this one is a moonshot...

But what do you think about an attraction/hotel combo called "ICEWORLD" that has a 50,000 square foot "Thermal Core" that is 27 degrees year round. There is an attached hotel, and in the Thermal core there is also floor level retail for coffee/hot chocolate, winter clothing, etc. It snows every day, there's slides, frozen cave, events, field trips.

Basically a year round version of what Gaylord Palms does. I think you would have to get the scale and scope right for it to be sustainable, but I think there could be a market...

It is my craziest idea but it would be something only Jacksonville has.

[jaxlongtimer]

Jax history of both music and Black culture, along with other aspects of Jax history, could be either incorporated into the new MOSH featuring a more sophisticated approach to Jax history than before, or, if not a good fit there, in a museum associated with the Jax History Center, where archives already exist to support museum documentation, etc. and could be further expanded to elevate the museum presentations.

I think combining niche museums into one larger museum would create more visitors to each niche by cross marketing than if they were standalones plus create operating efficiencies. To add others, maybe the Jax fire museum, Norman Studios, Ritz,  Orleck, etc. could be brought under a single administrative umbrella for these same reasons. This approach would also broaden community support, increasing the chances of sustainable success for all of them.

I would offer, as an example, the Ringling Museum in Sarasota.  It is an art museum, circus museum, historic home and elaborate gardens, plus high end restaurant, all rolled into a nearly full day experience.  An unusual mix of interests yet it thrives in a way that I doubt any one element could do so on its own.

[fsu813]

Jax history of both music and Black culture, along with other aspects of Jax history, could be either incorporated into the new MOSH featuring a more sophisticated approach to Jax history than before, or, if not a good fit there, in a museum associated with the Jax History Center, where archives already exist to support museum documentation, etc. and could be further expanded to elevate the museum presentations.

The Jax History Center is developing its museum programming now, targeting the end of 2027 to open that piece. As of now, the sections featured will include Early History, Great Fire of 1901, Gateway City, River of Change, Arts & Entertainment, Sports, Neighborhoods & Consolidation, and Civil Rights. Technology/adaptability will be prioritized to ensure exhibits don't become stale, timely content can be highlighted, etc.

[thelakelander]

Jax history of both music and Black culture, along with other aspects of Jax history, could be either incorporated into the new MOSH featuring a more sophisticated approach to Jax history than before, or, if not a good fit there, in a museum associated with the Jax History Center, where archives already exist to support museum documentation, etc. and could be further expanded to elevate the museum presentations.

I think combining niche museums into one larger museum would create more visitors to each niche by cross marketing than if they were standalones plus create operating efficiencies. To add others, maybe the Jax fire museum, Norman Studios, Ritz,  Orleck, etc. could be brought under a single administrative umbrella for these same reasons. This approach would also broaden community support, increasing the chances of sustainable success for all of them.

I would offer, as an example, the Ringling Museum in Sarasota.  It is an art museum, circus museum, historic home and elaborate gardens, plus high end restaurant, all rolled into a nearly full day experience.  An unusual mix of interests yet it thrives in a way that I doubt any one element could do so on its own.

This is a very interesting economic and planning dilemma that I've witnessed as a consultant in many historically excluded communities across the country.

Economically, museums are generally money pits. On the other hand, cultural heritage can be a strong economic driver for neighborhood revitalization.

In the Sarasota example, the Ringling contributes very little, if any, economic impact on the nearby New Town neighborhood, which is Sararsota's version of Jax's LaVilla.

In Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, the Harold Washington Cultural Center is a major destination in that neighborhood. Like the Ritz, its a museum/live performing arts venue. In Harlem, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a New York Public Library Branch that plays a similar role in that community.

People come to these destinations within the neighborhoods where the exact history was created and they intentionally spend money a shops and restaurants adjacent to them. While it may not benefit downtown, it does get the dollar recycling in the neighborhood before it leaves, creating jobs and new business opportunities birthing real neighborhood level economic revitalization. A side benefit his the cultural heritage becomes active as opposed to being an obituary of what was, in the form of a heritage marker or plaque.

When evaluated from that perspective, perhaps its fine to invest in the Ritz instead of taking LaVilla's story to MOSH to be controlled by a group who's should not be in charge of that story simply because its not theirs to tell.

In Durkeeville, the neighborhood does have a historic ballpark and structures directly linked to people like Hank Aaron. On the surface, it would seem to be an appropriate low hanging fruit for them to take advantage of their stadium and unique story to generate a rebirth of life on Myrtle instead of that story being shifted to the Sports & Entertainment District.

With that said, breaking down the silos, unified promotion and making our various attractions more complimentary seems like another low hanging fruit from a tourism perspective.

All in all, I find the various positions debated in different communities on this subject to be quite interesting.

[jaxlongtimer]

Jax history of both music and Black culture, along with other aspects of Jax history, could be either incorporated into the new MOSH featuring a more sophisticated approach to Jax history than before, or, if not a good fit there, in a museum associated with the Jax History Center, where archives already exist to support museum documentation, etc. and could be further expanded to elevate the museum presentations.

I think combining niche museums into one larger museum would create more visitors to each niche by cross marketing than if they were standalones plus create operating efficiencies. To add others, maybe the Jax fire museum, Norman Studios, Ritz,  Orleck, etc. could be brought under a single administrative umbrella for these same reasons. This approach would also broaden community support, increasing the chances of sustainable success for all of them.

I would offer, as an example, the Ringling Museum in Sarasota.  It is an art museum, circus museum, historic home and elaborate gardens, plus high end restaurant, all rolled into a nearly full day experience.  An unusual mix of interests yet it thrives in a way that I doubt any one element could do so on its own.

This is a very interesting economic and planning dilemma that I've witnessed as a consultant in many historically excluded communities across the country.

Economically, museums are generally money pits. On the other hand, cultural heritage can be a strong economic driver for neighborhood revitalization.

In the Sarasota example, the Ringling contributes very little, if any, economic impact on the nearby New Town neighborhood, which is Sararsota's version of Jax's LaVilla.

In Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, the Harold Washington Cultural Center is a major destination in that neighborhood. Like the Ritz, its a museum/live performing arts venue. In Harlem, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a New York Public Library Branch that plays a similar role in that community.

People come to these destinations within the neighborhoods where the exact history was created and they intentionally spend money a shops and restaurants adjacent to them. While it may not benefit downtown, it does get the dollar recycling in the neighborhood before it leaves, creating jobs and new business opportunities birthing real neighborhood level economic revitalization. A side benefit his the cultural heritage becomes active as opposed to being an obituary of what was, in the form of a heritage marker or plaque.

When evaluated from that perspective, perhaps its fine to invest in the Ritz instead of taking LaVilla's story to MOSH to be controlled by a group who's should not be in charge of that story simply because its not theirs to tell.

In Durkeeville, the neighborhood does have a historic ballpark and structures directly linked to people like Hank Aaron. On the surface, it would seem to be an appropriate low hanging fruit for them to take advantage of their stadium and unique story to generate a rebirth of life on Myrtle instead of that story being shifted to the Sports & Entertainment District.

With that said, breaking down the silos, unified promotion and making our various attractions more complimentary seems like another low hanging fruit from a tourism perspective.

All in all, I find the various positions debated in different communities on this subject to be quite interesting.

To be clear, I have no issue with museums being physically scattered in the areas where the history they honor takes place.  I was mostly suggesting that administrative, fund raising and marketing functions be shared under one entity to create both operating efficiencies (especially needed since many lose dollars as you note) and cross promotion.  Many of these niche museums may take as little as an hour to less than a full day to enjoy, so combining them to make a full day of exploration to more fully justify a trip, especially for out of towners, could benefit all of them.  For locals, cross pollination of history enriches all of us.