Little museum in Eatonville is big on culture, history

EATONVILLE, Fla. — If you’re not paying close attention during your drive down East Kennedy Boulevard in Eatonville, you might just miss it.

Nestled in a small duplex near Calhoun Avenue is one of Central Florida’s greatest cultural gems: The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts.

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Better known as “The Hurston,” the museum was named for Zora Neale Hurston, an African American writer, folklorist and anthropologist who was raised just up the street.

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Measuring a modest 600 square feet, the museum may be tighter on space than others you’ve visited.

But don’t let its small size fool you. The Hurston hosts works suitable for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The current exhibit -- “Black Kirby: an Afro-Futurist Vision” -- was inspired by Marvel comics and melds Black cultural themes and iconic heroes.

Featured works include “The UnKillable Buck Returns,” “Magneto X” and “The Uncanny King’s Men.”

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“This particular exhibit that will be up the whole year is one of the best we’ve had in our 30 years,” said museum representative, N.Y. Nathiri.

Since it was founded 1990, Nathiri says The Hurston’s mission has been to provide a place “in the heart of the community” where the public can view the work of artists of African ancestry.

So whether you’ve lived in Central Florida for the last three decades -- or plan to travel from across the world to visit Orlando’s world class attractions -- you might want to carve out an hour or two to travel the tiny, historic town of Eatonville.

Make your way down Kennedy Boulevard -- and look for The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts.

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You’re likely to discover it’s the little gem you almost drove right by and missed.

But you’ll sure thank yourself you didn’t.

For more information, including location and hours, click here.

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See map below for location of museum:

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