Preserving the Pearl City Communities in Boca Raton

“Pearl City is one of a few black areas in south Florida, east of the railroad tracks and they have tried their darndest to get us out of here. They have told us a million times that this is choice property and for you all to be living on it when you can sell it for commercial and make all of this money off it. But what what do we say to them? This is home and it is choice property for us. That’s why we are living on it…”

The Boca Ratos Historical Society and Museum proudly hosts the exhibit, “Pearl City,” which showcases an impressive collection of early photographs to create a subjective and impressionistic view of life in Pearl City, Boca Raton’s pioneering African-American community.

On January 18, 2021, join the Boca Raton Historical Society and Museum as they present an abbreviated video featuring highlights of interviews of longtime Pearl City residents and community footage from our 2020 project, Pearl City: Past; Present; and Future Phase 2. The residents will explain why it is important to record and share their stories for future generations. In addition, there will be an explanation of a planned historic site survey of the Pearl City neighborhoods for possible historic designation to take place in early February. Community volunteer residents will be trained to perform the building survey of the exterior of Pearl City residences, churches, and commercial structures and document its history.

This program is funded in part by a Florida Humanities Community Project Grant, in partnership with the Boca Raton Historical Society and Museum.