05/12/2026
Plaque Dedication & Celebration at Historic Stuart Training School (Spectrum Academy)
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 - 4 p.m.
Join us for a special Florida Emancipation Day celebration and plaque dedication at the historic Stuart Training School—now Spectrum Academy. This meaningful event is held in conjunction with Historic Preservation Month and honors a pivotal moment in Florida’s history.
Emancipation in Florida was officially proclaimed on May 20, 1865, in Tallahassee—11 days after the end of the Civil War and more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Union General Edward M. McCook read the order from the steps of the Knott House, formally announcing freedom to the enslaved people of the region.
The Stuart Training School, an important institution for African Americans in Martin County during segregation, serves as a fitting site for this commemoration.
Join Stuart City Commissioner Eula Clarke, along with representatives from The Afro American Citizens of Stuart, the NAACP, and the Martin County Black Heritage Initiative, as we celebrate culture, history, and community.
Location:
Spectrum Academy (formerly Stuart Training School)
800 Bahama Avenue, Stuart, FL 34994
We look forward to honoring this historic moment with you.