Endeavor Museums Aim to Transform Local History Into a Source of Pride and Tourism
Jackson County is taking bold steps to preserve its past and shape its future through the creation of two museums at Endeavor, the former site of the Dozier School for Boys. Together, the Jackson County Museum and the Emancipation History Museum are envisioned as cultural anchors that will honor the community’s history while attracting visitors and boosting the local economy.
For years, the Dozier property stood as a painful reminder of tragedy and neglect, especially after Hurricane Michael left its future uncertain. But, as Kelsi Jackson of the Jackson County Tourist Development Council explained, county leaders saw an opportunity to turn an eyesore into an asset.
“The inspiration was to take something that had been a hurt for our community and turn it into something that could bring pride,” Jackson said. “By developing the museums and convention center, we hope to increase economic impact through tourism while also preserving our stories.”
The Jackson County Museum, located in Dozier’s former cafeteria building, will highlight five key areas: ecological history, agricultural history, important people and places, military history, and the Dozier School itself. Including Dozier’s history, Jackson stressed, is vital to telling a complete and honest story.
“History isn’t always pretty,” she said. “A museum has to include the good, the bad, and the ugly. That means sharing the complexities of Dozier, both the well-known narratives and those less told, so visitors can understand the full scope of our past.”
Meanwhile, the Emancipation History Museum, led by Byron Dickens and the Freedom Works Foundation, will expand Jackson County’s story into a broader national and global narrative. “This is going to be different from anything you’ve seen,” Dickens said. “It’s rooted in America’s story of emancipation, but it also connects to the global struggle for freedom. Jackson County played a critical role in Florida’s emancipation history, and we want to showcase that.”
Dickens believes the museum will give Jackson County a distinct identity within Florida’s tourism market. “Just as people go to the beach, they’ll be able to come here for history. We want families to spend not just an hour, but a whole day or weekend experiencing what Jackson County has to offer.”
Both projects are being developed in phases, with architectural designs complete and initial stabilization work underway. Progress depends largely on grant funding, so exact timelines remain flexible. Organizers are currently targeting a four-to-five-year window for opening.
To ensure the museums reflect the community’s voice, Jackson and Dickens are leaning heavily on public involvement. A steering committee of local members is helping guide decisions, while a series of workshops beginning this fall will invite residents to share stories, donate artifacts, and suggest ideas for exhibits. “We want this to be shaped by our community, for our community,” Jackson said.
Ultimately, the two museums will complement each other, with exhibits that connect the broader story of emancipation to Jackson County’s rich heritage. Dickens sees the effort as part of a larger movement to give Northwest Florida an economic and cultural stronghold beyond its coastlines.
“This is about uniting our past with our future,” he said. “It’s about giving our young people pride, bringing in tourism, and putting Jackson County on the map as a destination where history comes alive.”
With careful planning and strong community support, the museums at Endeavor are set to transform a site once known for hardship into a place of learning, reflection, and renewal—one that tells Jackson County’s story to the world.