When Daytona Beach was founded in 1876, two of its founders, John Tolliver and Thaddeus S. Gooden, were African American. Over time, Jim Crow laws drastically changed Florida, and by the 1920s African Americans were banned from most of the state’s public beaches. In response, beaches such as Butler Beach in St. Augustine, American Beach on Amelia Island, and Paradise Park at Silver Springs in Ocala opened to serve African Americans. In 1935, only two places in Volusia County permitted African Americans access to the beach, and only during the summer and on specific holidays. Bethune-Cookman College co-founder and president Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune sought to create a beach in Volusia County where African Americans could enjoy the shore without restriction or fear of harassment. Born in Mayesville, South Carolina, to formerly enslaved parents, Bethune moved to Daytona Beach in 1904. She founded the Daytona Literary and Industrial School for the Training of Negro Girls, which later merged with Cookman Institute in Jacksonville to become Bethune-Cookman College. Active in educational advancement and civil rights for African Americans in Florida and across the nation, Bethune approached architect and developer Mr. Dana F. Fuquay about buying a two-and-a-half mile strip of land south of New Smyrna Beach. Fuquay, who owned most of the land along the Intracoastal Waterway in Volusia and Flagler counties, led Bethune to seek investors. Using her influence, she arranged a meeting at the Rogers Hotel in Tampa with some of Florida’s wealthiest African Americans, and on December 9, 1945, the Bethune-Volusia Beach Corporation was formed. Its charter members were president Mr. G.D. Rogers, executive vice-president Mr. George W. Powell, vice-president Dr. W.H. Gray, secretary Mr. James A. Colston, and treasurer Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. The beach quickly became a popular vacation destination for African Americans from across the country. During the July 4 celebration in 1950, more than 5,000 people attended. Bethune-Volusia Beach was open to all races, although ownership of land and businesses remained solely in African American hands. After the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, the beach declined in popularity as other local options became more available and many visitors, especially those from out of state, stopped coming.