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Mandarin Museum News
June 2025
Embrace the Mandarin Experience
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Dear Friends,
If you missed last month's opening reception for Kathy Stark's SEE JACKSONVILLE, that's a big bummer! It means you also missed the dramatic unveiling of the newest piece in her SEE JACKSONVILLE series: a 1930s WPA National Park Service-inspired "poster" for Walter Jones Historical Park. Beautifully hand painted and representing a popular scene (the front lawn of the 1875 Webb-Jones Farmhouse), Kathy's vivid color palette continues from her previous work on other gorgeous parks in Northeast Florida.
All is not lost, though. Kathy's exhibition is on display through the end of July. Join those who have already stopped in to see it and to pick up a copy of her book, The Wilderness of North Florida's Parks. It serves as the perfect inspiration to explore our area's natural wonders. In addition, each piece in her series is available as an archival print in our museum shop as are Kathy's originals. A portion of all sales during the exhibition benefit Mandarin Museum.
While you make it a point to come visit us this month, please also make it a point to mark your calendars for Thursday, September 25th! Mandarin Museum will host its 3rd annual fundraising dinner to benefit our annual programming and operations. We're delighted to welcome this year's presenting sponsor - Yoga Den - as we celebrate our theme "Always the River." Based on a poem of the same name and written by the late and beloved Jean Morrow, "Always the River" calls to mind that no matter who came to Mandarin or when, it was always the river that brought them here. Over centuries, the St. Johns River has served as a major thoroughfare, a source of sustenance, a place of respite, and plays a vital role in Florida's complex ecosystem. We'd love for you to join us as we celebrate our organization and our river! All information appears later in this newsletter.
Until then and as always, I'll see you at the Museum!
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----Brittany Cohill
----Executive Director
| | Visit Jacksonville's destination experience staff enjoyed Kathy Stark's SEE JACKSONVILLE during their recent visit to Mandarin Museum! | | |
Authentic hand-painted Mandarin Frogs by THE Frogman are in high demand. He dropped off not one, but TWO for us to give away this month. Two winners will be chosen at month's end. The first to arrive to claim their frog will have first pick.
Visit Mandarin Museum during our regular operating hours to enter: Wednesday - Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. In-person entries only.
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Kathy Stark’s “SEE JACKSONVILLE” is on display now through July 26th.
SEE JACKSONVILLE features Stark’s original acrylic gouache on panel pieces that inform her popular series of 1930s WPA National Park Service-inspired posters of North Florida parks. Each work was designed and painted in the style of silk-screened NPS posters created by The Federal Arts Project poster division during President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal program.
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First Saturday @ the Museum
Saturday, June 7
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Join Mandarin Museum the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm when all historic buildings throughout Walter Jones Historical Park will be open to the public.
The young and young at heart can pick up a free scavenger hunt at Museum Guest Services to complete as you visit the museum's exhibits and stroll along the park's paved pathways.
Learn more about the area's 19th-century past as museum volunteers greet you at the 1898 St. Joseph's Mission Schoolhouse for African American Children, the 1892 Losco Winery, the 1876 Barn, and the 1875 Webb-Jones Farmhouse.
The historic Mandarin Store & Post Office, located just down the road at 12471 Mandarin Rd., will also be open to visitors.
Admission is free.
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Mandarin Frog Painting
Saturday, June 7
10:00 am
Museum Front Lawn
Spots remain! Purchase, paint, and take home your very own Mandarin Frog (or sea turtle). The cost is $22 + tax per person and all supplies are provided. Advanced registration is required, payment is due upon arrival to the event. To sign-up, please email info@mandarinmuseum.org.
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Meet the Maple Leaf Divers
Saturday, June 7
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Maple Leaf Shipwreck Gallery
Meet the men who dove the Maple Leaf Shipwreck! On April 1, 1864, the Union steamboat Maple Leaf was sunk by Confederates in the St. Johns River just off Mandarin Point. In the 1980s, Dr. Keith Holland and his team of divers located and excavated the site. Now designated a National Historic Landmark, the nearly 3,000 artifacts they recovered have been entrusted to the State of Florida for preservation. Mandarin Museum displays many of these artifacts through a longterm partnership with the State Archives of Florida.
Dr. Holland and the Maple Leaf Divers will be in the gallery from 10:00 am to noon on Saturday, June 7th to meet with visitors. This is an informal, coversational-style event. Drop in to hear their story of discovery, recovery, and preservation.
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Jacksonville History Center's 3rd Annual History Fair
Saturday, June 14
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
314 Palmetto Street
Tickets $10, available only at the door
Join Mandarin Museum as we participate in The Jacksonville History Center's 3rd Annual History Fair on Saturday, June 14th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Formerly The Jacksonville Historical Society, the rebranding to The Jacksonville History Center coincides with an exciting expansion of their campus. They have completed the renovation of the old Casket Company building, site of their future museum. The 3rd Annual History Fair will be their first public event in the renovated space.
The Fair will include displays by Northeast Florida history organizations, as well as cars from the First Coast Region Model A Club. Enjoy short presentations throughout the day. Peruse the book sale; bring a bag and fill it for $15. Need a snack? The About Time food truck will be on site.
Admission is $10 per person, tickets available only at the door. Free on-site parking available.
Please direct any questions to The Jacksonville History Center, info@jaxhistory.org.
| | Photos courtesy of Olis Garber | | |
Mandarin Museum's 3rd Annual Fundraising Dinner: Always the River presented by Yoga Den
Thursday, September 25
6:00 to 9:30 pm
Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro
10110 San Jose Blvd.
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Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is thrilled to host its 2025 annual fundraising dinner on Thursday, September 25th at Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro. With a theme of “Always the River,” it will be a true celebration of what has been foundational to our love for the community and its history - the St. Johns River!
The evening will begin at 6:00 pm with Mandarin Museum’s Board of Directors welcoming guests for cocktail hour and the opening of the silent auction. The fun continues as Chef Dennis Chan presents a custom curated four-course menu. Throughout, guests will enjoy a fun-filled program of speakers and entertainment chronicling the river’s central role in the history and culture of Mandarin, including a very special “Always the River” musical performance by museum house band The Orange Pickers. Mandarin Museum will also bestow its inaugural Always the River Award on the 2025 honorees for their role in ensuring the St. Johns River remains in the hearts, minds, and hands of the community.
Online presale for Mandarin Museum patron-level members begins Sunday, June 29th at 8:00 am. A purchase link will be sent by email.
General ticket sales online and in-person at Museum Guest Services begins Wednesday, July 2nd.
We anticipate a sold out event!
Thank you to our 2025 Presenting Sponsor, Yoga Den!
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Mandarin Museum's archive contains the largest institutional Memphis Wood permanent art collection. This is a point of pride as her impact on our Mandarin community and the Jacksonville art scene is seemingly immeasurable. The number of museum visitors, members, volunteers, and others who remark with excitement, "she was my art teacher at Landon High" is also seemingly immeasurable.
Maybe you caught writer and FSCJ English Professor Tim Gilmore's story on Memphis he shared online this past March.
| | Tim's story garnered quite a bit of positive attention for the museum. We loved meeting new guests who came just to see our Memphis collection! There was just one problem. Our Memphis Wood Revisited exhibition had ended about 6 months prior to the publication of Tim's story. Knowing that it wasn't sustainable to continue giving impromptu tours of the archives, we did the only thing we could think of: we converted our employee hallway into a Memphis Wood gallery! It is now open to the public. | | Pictured: Belshazzar's Feast II, a gift from MOCA Jax, original gift to MOCA by Robin Patton and her mother Evelyn H. Nehl in memory of John Steven Hughes. Mrs. Nehl received the EVE Award for her work organizing The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Exhibit in Jacksonville. She was inspired to bring the AIDS Quilt to Jacksonville after her youngest child, John, a promising young actor, died of complications from AIDS in 1989 at the age of 30. | | |
Tim Gilmore is now working on a more comprehensive telling of Memphis Wood's life and career. Anticipating a full-length book, Tim and the museum thought it would be a wonderful idea for him to connect with her former students as part of his research.
If you were a student of Memphis Wood during her time at Landon High School or Jacksonville University, please join us for an author listening session.
When: Tuesday, June 17th, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Where: Mandarin Museum, 11964 Mandarin Rd.
What to bring: Your memories, a desire to reminisce with others, and any related photos, documents, or art you created under her direction (if any exists!)
RSVP: to Brittany Cohill by June 16, director@mandarinmuseum.org
Olis Garber Photography will video record the session as part of Mandarin Museum's commitment to preserve our community's history and culture.
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April 2025 Third Thursday Lecture:
Evolution in Clay with Artist Vina Schemer
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May 2025 Third Thursday Lecture:
Jacksonville Through the Lens of Self with Bob Self
| | Thank you to Endless Summer Roofing Co. for generously sponsoring our Spring 2025 Third Thursday Lecture Series! | | A new and exciting partnership with the Veterans Museum, a subsidiary of the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association, is underway! In our main gallery space, visitors can interact with this touchscreen kiosk to connect with veterans’ stories in a powerful and immersive way. Designed to preserve, honor, and share real accounts of military service, sacrifice, and courage, each kiosk provides access to video interviews and personal stories submitted by veterans across the country. Visitors can watch these stories, explore military experiences, and gain a deeper understanding of what service truly means. | | Click on the photo below to learn more about the Veterans Museum and their kiosks, including a video from Veterans Museum CEO Scott Mythen previewing the experience. | | Visit Jacksonville's destination experience staff enjoyed engaging with the Veterans Museum kiosk on their recent visit to Mandarin Museum! | | Also new at Mandarin Museum! Thanks to the City of Jacksonville, a new sidewalk has been completed at the pedestrian crossing linking Walter Jones Historical Park to our overflow parking that is so kindly provided by Mandarin Presbyterian Church. Now visitors on foot can enter the park through the pedestrian gate instead of the park's main gate. We are so grateful for the team at COJ Parks, Recreation, and Community Services and Councilman Michael Boylan for being responsive to our feedback regarding the safety of our park and museum visitors. | |
Be a supporter of arts & culture in our community through the purchase of an annual membership! Benefits at the individual, family, and patron levels include free guided walking tours of Walter Jones Historical Park, reciprocal benefits at other museums across the nation, discounts in our Museum Shop, and more!
Every contribution made through the purchase of an annual membership enables us to fulfill our mission!
| | Mandarin Museum members at the Family Level and above automatically enjoy the benefits of NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum Association)! By supporting your favorite museum, you receive reciprocal member benefits at almost 1,500 museums, botanical gardens, aquariums, and more across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and The Cayman Islands. Simply show your Mandarin Museum membership card at participating locations! | | Mandarin Museum Executive Director Brittany Cohill and her husband David used their NARM benefits recently when visiting the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. By showing their Mandarin Museum membership card upon entry, they were granted free admission -- a savings of over $50 in admissions fees! | | |
Read 2025 issues of the Mandarin Newsline online now!
This free newspaper allows Mandarin Museum to share history, events, and programs with the public. The newspaper remains free to readers due to the robust local advertising. Please visit, shop, and eat at those businesses who support the community in this way.
| | Look who made the front page of the June issue! | | |
...get inspired by all the good people doing good work in our community!
We loved visiting with a group from K9s for Warriors! Recently, their service dogs in training stopped by Mandarin Museum and Walter Jones Historical Park, along with their handlers, for part of their public access testing. Museum staff and volunteers were treated to a brief demonstration of some of the dogs' cues. The handlers explained the service dogs’ intentional, yet subtle, behaviors that will support their future veteran owners. We were so impressed by these happy, smart, and well-behaved doggos!
| | Mandarin Museum was well represented at the recent Florida Commission Meeting held at Edward Waters University for the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Greg Estevez, a member of our Untold Story of Black Mandarin committee, presented on the direct link between the Gullah Geechee community at Edisto Island, SC and the Edisto settlement in Mandarin. Museum Executive Director Brittany Cohill presented an update to the Commission - and other organizations in attendance - on the museum's programming. It was an informative and collaborative day focused on relationship building and the Corridor's rich history. (Pictured left: Greg Estevez; Pictured right: Greg Estevez, Gullah Historian Elaine Ford Jackson, GGCHC Florida Commissioner Ashantae Green, and Brittany Cohill) | | More ways to stay up-to-date! | | | |
Thank you to all our community partners!
Mandarin Museum is supported, in part, through the Cultural Service Grant Program administered by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville and funded by the City of Jacksonville.
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OUR MISSION: Mandarin Museum & Historical Society shares the stories of Mandarin's history, culture, and natural resources by providing engaging programs that educate, entertain, and inspire.
VISIT. JOIN. VOLUNTEER.
Mandarin Museum & Historical Society
904-268-0784
info@mandarinmuseum.org
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