Melbourne Founders Museum

1001 Brothers Ave, Melbourne 32904

Designed By: Change of Greenery

Installed By: Change of Greenery

Started: 2024

Percentage of Native Plants: 95%

Amount of Sun and Shade: Mixed sun/shade

Landscape Description: In 1884, in a tiny house on the southern banks of Crane Creek, Wright and Mary Brothers, Robert and Carrie Lipscomb, and Balaam and Salina Allen met for the purpose of organizing a place of worship for themselves and others of the Black community. In 1885, the first church structure for Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church was built on the northern end of what is now Lipscomb Street. This was Melbourne’s first house of worship. Growth of Melbourne was driven by Union Cypress Company sawmill which employed 300 people and had its own hospital, post office, and company store.

The original tiny home was relocated in 2020 and is now a museum highlighting the culture and history of local Blacks and other ethnicities and the roles they played in the development of Crane Creek, now known as Melbourne, Fl. Info: https://www.melbournefounders.org/

The native landscape contains plants that were in this area when the founders arrived and showcases their importance to local history.

Challenges: When the small house was moved, the current lot was completely cleared except for the large oak tree which meant starting with a blank slate.

Parking Restrictions: Please park on Brothers Ave. west of the museum and behind the church in the grass field.