During the period of racial segregation, African Americans were barred from most of the beaches in Florida. American Beach was founded in 1935 to provide African Americans with beach access in a resort atmosphere. Nana, the sand dune at the heart of American Beach, stood near “The Crossroads” between Ocean Boulevard and Gregg Street, which from 1935 to 2000 was the jumping off place for Black beachgoers. Over summer weekends, from the dunes to the sea, the area was filled with people and American Beach was in constant motion.