Across Brevard County, the achievements of African American educators, artists, and activists are woven into the very character of the community. Visitors and residents alike can experience these stories through the Civil Rights Trail, the Florida Black Heritage Trail, and a curated mobile passport that connects them to historic landmarks and meaningful destinations throughout the county.
Among the most influential figures are Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore, educators and activists whose leadership helped define Brevard’s civil rights movement. Together, they fought tirelessly for equal pay for Black teachers and established the area’s first NAACP branch. Their lives were tragically cut short in 1951 when their home in Mims was bombed—a moment that marked a devastating but pivotal point in the national struggle for civil rights. Today, their homesite stands as a Florida Heritage Landmark, preserved in their memory and as a reminder of their courage.
Rosa Lee Jones, affectionately known as “The Mother of Cocoa,” arrived in Brevard County in 1925 and quickly became a pillar of her community. An educator, media host, and tireless advocate for equality, she worked alongside the Moores to challenge pay disparities and later founded the Rosebud Kindergarten, an integrated institution that stood as a symbol of hope and progress. Her enduring influence can still be felt in the heart of Cocoa Village, where her name graces a local street and her likeness appears in a vibrant mural.
Another central figure in this rich tapestry is Dennis Sawyer, a Bahamian-born community builder who helped lay the foundations for early Black education on the Space Coast. He founded Mt. Olive AME Church and operated Sawyer’s Hall, a vital gathering place that nurtured both social and economic life in the region.
The Space Coast’s cultural landscape also owes much to the artistry of the Florida Highwaymen—a group of 26 African American painters who, from the 1950s to the 1980s, created and sold more than 200,000 vivid landscape paintings along Florida’s coastal highways. Their determination and talent opened doors in a segregated art world, transforming the state’s visual identity. Among them, Robert L. Lewis continues to inspire as both an artist and educator, his works are exhibited in the Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science and beyond.
Zora Neale Hurston, the celebrated author, anthropologist, and folklorist, also left her mark on the Space Coast. During her time in Eau Gallie and Cocoa, she conducted folklore research, wrote Mules and Men, and immersed herself in journalism and theatre. Her presence in the region reflects its connection to the Harlem Renaissance and its enduring contribution to African American literary history.
The Space Coast invites everyone to discover these stories—of visionaries, creators, and changemakers—through the Black History mobile passport, which guides visitors to key sites and monuments across the area. More information on the region and a trip planning tool can be found on the official website. Once in the area the Visitor Information Center at 267 W. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, 32931 Florida provides local information and as well as some popular photo opportunities.
Posted by: Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism
Posted on: 04/11/2025