Every February we observe National African American History Month, also known as Black History Month, to celebrate and honor the many achievements and contributions made by African Americans to the U.S. and the Sunshine State. During the month of February, Floridians will celebrate with festivals, conferences, exhibits and concerts and following is a sampling of Black History Month events throughout Florida.

VISIT FLORIDA, the state�s official marketing corporation, launched the Worth the Drive guidebook of 17 self-directed tours designed to help travelers discover some of Florida�s best-kept secrets, and it contains a themed tour of the African-American Heritage Trail. The Trail spans four days, taking the traveler from Pompano Beach to Key West. During the tour, visitors will experience some of South Florida�s most significant African-American cultural and historical sites, including the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center and the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society Museum. Other activities on the tour include Miami�s Coconut Grove District, an 1870s settlement for Bahamian craftsmen, and the daily sunset celebration in the Mallory Square Festival Marketplace in Key West. For more information, call 1-888-7-FLAUSA (352872) or visit www.FLAUSA.com.

Events & Activities

White Springs (near Jacksonville) � On February 13, at the Re-Enactment of the Battle of Olustee more than 2,500 people gather to re-enact the 1864 battle at the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. The festivities include Civil War military drills and camps, full-scale artillery, medical demonstrations, 54th Massachusetts regiment and storytelling about African American women during the war. The Massachusetts 54th regiment has been widely recognized for its valor and courage throughout history, but the recognition was greatly expanded by the movie "Glory," parts of which were filmed at the Olustee Battle Re-Enactment held at Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. The event is held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on February 13. (386) 397-7009. www.floridastateparks.org/olustee

Tallahassee � As part of the tour of the Tallahassee Automobile Museum, visitors will have the rare opportunity to view the elegant 1860 hearse reported to have carried the body of Abraham Lincoln. Also on display are a replica of the gun used to assassinate President Lincoln and a Reward Poster issued by the War Department on April 20, 1865. (850) 656-6211.

Daytona Beach � Through May 16, the Museum of Arts & Sciences will host the exhibition, A Slave Ship Speaks: The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie. In the summer of 1700, the English merchant slave ship, the Henrietta Marie, sank 35 miles off the coast of Key West after unloading a cargo of 190 enslaved Africans in Jamaica. Discovered by famed treasure hunter Mel Fisher, it is the only known slave ship recovered from America. The interactive elements of the exhibition allow visitors to examine the artifacts for which human lives were traded; hear the captain and crew tell their stories; pay a visit to a slave trader�s office; enter a recreated cargo hold like the one in which enslaved Africans were packed for the transoceanic voyage; experience the trauma of trying on replica shackles; and explore the ship�s archaeological recovery. (386) 255-0285. www.moas.org

Orlando � The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) is celebrating Black History Month with two �must-see� exhibitions. The museum will showcase the personal art collection of Central Florida�s own Orlando Magic basketball star, Grant Hill � Something All Our Own: The Grant Hill Collection of African American Art. The OMA is the opening venue for a nationwide tour of this exhibition, which continues through February 15. The collection features a selection of more than 45 sculptures, prints, collages, paintings and other works by well-known African-American artists including Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, John Biggers, Hughie Lee-Smith, Malcolm Brown, Phoebe Beasley and John Coleman. While at the OMA, explore more than 70 works of art from captivating selections from Of Power and Grace: The Art of Southern Africa, Selections and Gifts from the Norma Canelas and William D. Roth Collection. Highlights include a rare and spectacular Zulu beaded rickshaw driver�s attire from Durban, elegant ornaments of metal beads and red ochre from the Himba, delicately stitched and beaded leather wraps of the San and contemporary ceramic vessels of the Zulu. This exhibition continues through July 11, 2004. (407) 896-4231. www.OMArt.org

St. Petersburg � The Florida African American Heritage Celebration is a countywide celebration of African American history and culture taking place on February 28. It will include performances by local dancers, storytellers, musicians, drummers, "step show" clubs, gospel choirs and more. The event also includes ethnic cooking demonstrations and a variety of ethnic food vendors. The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo, which is comprised of Heritage Village, Pinellas County's historical museum, the Gulf Coast Museum of Art and the Florida Botanical Gardens. Admission is free. (727) 582-2123. www.co.pinellas.fl.us/bcc/Unity.htm

Boca Raton � The Boca Raton Museum of Art will host two events on February 29 in honor of Black History Month. The Film & Video Series begins at 1 p.m. with a viewing of The Highwaymen, a video tracing the history of Florida�s Highwaymen: a group untrained African-American artists who sold their paintings from roadside stands in the Ft. Pierce area. Characterized by intense color, their na�ve landscapes today are highly collectible. Young Sundays begins at 2 p.m. featuring "Madafo - An African Portrait." Madafo speaks through his music of the African and African American experience. His program is presented in the tradition of The Griot, the African storyteller and musician. (561) 392-2500. www.bocamuseum.org

Miami � The Historical Museum of Southern Florida is hosting various events during the month of February to honor Black History Month. Maggie Steber: Haitian Photographs will be on display from February 26 through June 6, 2004. Internationally known freelance photojournalist and former Director of Photography at The Miami Herald, Ms. Steber�s award winning photographs of her have been published in National Geographic, Life, The New York Times, Newsweek, People and many other American and European publications. Historic Tours with Dr. Paul George will take place Sunday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. Take a relaxing cruise along Miami�s own working river and discover the historic site of a Tequesta village, three Spanish missions, slave plantations and much more. Advance reservations required. February 28 at 4 p.m., the museum will host a Coconut Grove Twilight Walking Tour. Put on your walking shoes and prepare to experience one of Miami�s original settlements, once known as �Cocoanut� Grove. Discover the lifestyles of its pioneering community, the sites of early homesteaders� settlements, the Barnacle, Millionaire�s Row, the Peacock Inn and much more. (305) 375-1492. www.historical-museum.org

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Media Contact: Betsy Caire, public relations representative VISIT FLORIDA (850) 322-6348 betsyc@visitflorida.org