May 17, 2024
MIAMI – Beyond Overtown’s vibrant street art and cultural spots lies an overlooked piece of Miami history: the City of Miami Black Police Precinct & Courthouse Museum. In 1944, the first five black patrolmen were sworn in which led to the creation of this precinct, the only one of its kind in the nation. Oldest living black police officer Lt. Archie McKay and museum director Terrance Cribbs-Lorrant are sharing the challenges these officers faced during the Jim Crow era and how they fought to preserve this building from demolition. Learn how this forgotten part of history is now making an impact on the future of Miami policing. Watch now
About the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum
The only museum of its kind in the nation, the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum, located in the historic Overtown community in Miami, FL, was once an active police station and courthouse serving South Florida’s Black community. Today, the museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, and display the history of Black Law Enforcement that served in the City of Miami Police Department during the pre-Civil Rights era. The museum houses artifacts, documents, and archival images that share the stories of the men and women who worked there. Currently, the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum is working on an oral history collection effort aimed at preserving stories of those who worked in the precinct and courthouse when it was active.
The Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 am until 3:30 pm. Guided museum tours are provided by retired City of Miami police officers. For more information, visit https://