The Highway 17 North Heritage Trail was the brainchild of Senator Tony Hill of Jacksonville, who had the idea to create a heritage corridor dedicated to the accomplishments of African Americans. Sen. Hill was struck by how so many prominent members of the Harlem Renaissance came from Jacksonville, and wanted to celebrate the working-class highway corridor linking Jacksonville to inland central Florida. the idea was to install information kiosks in the birthplaces of Randolph, Savage, and the Johnson Brothers, linking together this “small migration.”
Senator hill enlisted the help of Edward Waters UNiversity professor David Jamison to write a grant from florida humanities, and the grant was awarded. a board member of the jacksonville history center (JHC), Dr. Jamison enlisted the help of JHc CEO Dr. Alan Bliss, who agreed to let the JHC cosponor the project. Dr. Jamison wanted to be sure to use local talent, so he found local graphic designer Michelle ELam to create the posters. In addition, local artists are responsible for decorating each kiosk. Noted Jacksonville artist Marsha HAtcher designed the Johnson brothers’ kiosk; the director of the Augusta Savage Arts and cultural Center, henrietta Francis, designed savage’s kiosk; and art teacher Erin Delaney and her student be’asia mccants at Crescent City Jr-Sr High school designed Randolph’s crescent city kiosk.
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https://www.highway17northheritagetrail.com/