American Beach in Nassau County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Burney Park

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 2, 2023

1. Burney Park Marker

Inscription. Burney Park at American Beach was named for Isadore Horace Burney II, a native of Athens, Georgia. After graduating from Atlanta University in the mid-1930s, Burney began his life-long career as an agent in Athens for the Afro-American Life Insurance Company. He later came to manage several branches of the company, including ones in Savannah, Tampa, and Atlanta. In 1954, he moved to Jacksonville to serve as Vice-President-Secretary of the "Afro." In 1967, Burney became president of the company, a position he held until his retirement in 1976. During his lifetime, Burney was a civic leader. He served on the boards of several organizations, including the YMCA, St. Vincent's Hospital, and the Boys Club. He was also a trustee of Jacksonville University. Burney's community service helped him promote and fulfill the goals and aspirations of the Afro-American Life Insurance Company and the American Beach Community. After frequent visits to American Beach, beginning with their honeymoon in 1936, Isadore Burney and his wife, Miriam Cunningham Burney, built a vacation home on American Beach in 1965. Burney Park was dedicated October

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

1990, the first park named for a person of color in Nassau County.
A Florida Heritage Site

Erected 2021 by Friends of American Beach, Inc., and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1147.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1990.

Location. 30° 34.147′ N, 81° 26.734′ W. Marker is in American Beach, Florida, in Nassau County. It can be reached from the intersection of Gregg Street and Ocean Boulevard. Marker is located in the parking area of Burney Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1556 Gregg Street, Fernandina Beach FL 32034, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s First Coast,

in Greater Jacksonville,

and on the Sea Islands.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 2, 2023

2. Burney Park Marker

of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: American Beach at the Crossroads (approx. ¼ mile away); A Dune System Called "NaNa" (approx. 0.3 miles away); Evans’ Rendezvous (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Evans' Rendezvous (approx. 0.3 miles away); Historic American Beach (approx. 0.3 miles away); First Home on American Beach (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Guzman House (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Stewart House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in American Beach.

Also see . . . Burney Park. (Submitted on April 2, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 2, 2023

3. Burney Park Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 887 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 2, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.