Welcome to the Palm Beach County Black Cultural Heritage Trail. Here you’ll find the 2 locations on the trail specific to the western region of Palm Beach County (both in Belle Glade, FL). Please visit the Palm Beach County Black Cultural Heritage Trail home page to find destinations in the northern, central, and southern portions of the county along with a full interactive map of the trail.

This post was written by Brian Knowles of Power Builders. All photography by Daniel Fortune.

St. John Missionary Baptist Church
600 SW 8th Street, Belle Glade

Situated on the western periphery of Palm Beach County, Chosen, formerly a thriving community in proximity to Belle Glade and Lake Okeechobee, underwent a transformation into a ghost town following the devastating impact of the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. This natural calamity resulted in the complete devastation of the area; wiping Chosen off the map with no subsequent revival.

In this once-vibrant community, African Americans established St. John First Missionary Baptist Church in 1927 under the leadership of Reverend W. J. Bryant. In the hurricane’s aftermath, the church sought refuge in the early 1930s, securing land in the 300 block of S.W. 5th Street in Belle Glade at Avenue C Place for the construction of a new church building. A pivotal moment occurred in 1953 when the church purchased land for yet another new building, leading to its relocation to 600 SW 8th Street.

Lawrence E. Will Museum
530 S. Main Street, Belle Glade

Managed by the Glades Historical Society, the Lawrence E. Will Museum in Belle Glade, Florida, stands as a repository of local history. Representing the comprehensive Glades experience, the Museum of the Glades features an archival collection spanning from the early inhabitants of Belle Glade, the Seminoles, early pioneer settlements, agricultural tools and innovations, the early 20th-century hurricanes, and historical records of the local community.

African Americans have been instrumental in shaping the events and history of this region, and the Glades Museum delves into their contributions in areas such as education, politics, law, the arts, as well as professional and collegiate football.