H. Res. 361 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 8, 2009. 

Whereas in the early 1900s, Historic Virginia Key Beach 

Park of Miami, Florida, was frequented by African-American and Caribbean settlers arriving by ferry from mainland South Florida; 

Whereas in the summer of 1945, on the beach at Baker’s 

Haulover County Park, a group of black men led by then 

attorney Lawson E. Thomas staged a protest against the 

unjust segregation laws that prohibited black people from 

using the public beaches in South Florida; 

Whereas in response to the protest, county officials designated Virginia Key Beach Park as the ‘‘Colored 

Beach’’, a segregated beach site for the African-American 

community which opened on August 1, 1945; 

Whereas, even after civil rights laws opened all the public 

beaches in South Florida to people of all races and 

ethnicities, Virginia Key Beach Park remained a popular 

destination for many in the African-American community 

for several decades; 

Whereas in 1979, the site was transferred from the county 

to the City of Miami with the stipulation that the beach 

be kept open and maintained as a public park and recreation area; 
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Whereas in 1982, citing the high cost of maintenance and operations, the City of Miami closed Virginia Key Beach 

Park shortly after assuming its responsibility; 

Whereas in 1990, the City of Miami Commission responded 

to citizen outcry and established the Virginia Key Beach 

Park Trust (hereafter referred to as the ‘‘Trust’’) to restore, reopen, and preserve the site for public use; 

Whereas the late M. Athalie Range, an African-American 

community leader and the first woman to sit on the City 

of Miami Commission, worked with the community to 

save Virginia Key Beach Park from the grasp of developers, and deliver it back to the people. She lobbied to 

place the property on the National Register of Historic 

Places, spearheaded funding for a multi-billion dollar restoration program, and planned a new museum/cultural 

center that would one day, impart the message of social 

equality and responsible citizenry for future generations; 

Whereas in June 2002, the Trust successfully petitioned Federal and State government officials to place the site on 

the National Register of Historic Places and give it a 

Florida Historical Marker; 

Whereas in 2003, the Dade Community Foundation established the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park Trust Fund 

to collect charitable donations to help restore and preserve the park; and 

Whereas on February 22, 2008, after extensive renovation by 

the Trust, Historic Virginia Key Beach Park celebrated 

its grand re-opening for public use by the entire community with a ribbon cutting ceremony and community concert: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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(1) recognizes the extraordinary historical, cultural, 

and recreational significance of Historic Virginia Key 

Beach Park of Miami, Florida; 

(2) recommits its attempt to protect and preserve 

American history through national parks and historic 

sites; and 

(3) acknowledges the significance of the AfricanAmerican community’s struggle for equality through its 

collaborative efforts to preserve this historic site. 

Attest: 

Clerk.