MIAMI, November 14, 2025 – – One day before turning 100, Lt. Archie McKay walked into the City of Miami Historic Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum to the sound of applause, cheers, and the rhythms of Booker T. Washington Senior High School’s band — his alma mater.
For the World War II veteran and one of the last surviving officers of Miami’s historic “Negro-Only” Precinct, the centennial celebration on Friday, Nov. 14, was more than a birthday. It was a community’s tribute to a man whose life has traced nearly the entire arc of Black Miami’s struggle for dignity, justice, and belonging.
“I just feel very blessed because I know that you don’t get to be 100 without God,” said Carolyn McKay, Archie’s oldest daughter. “I’m just thankful that I’ve always had a dad in my life. He’s been a good dad, a great provider, and a great protector.”
Read more from the Miami Times
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://