Broward County

Exhibit captures decades of change in Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk community

By Raisa Habersham
Emmanuel George, the curator of the Old Dillard Museum, is photographed outside of the historic building in the Sistrunk neighborhood on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. George curated the latest exhibit “Sistrunk, Then & Now” to show how the Black neighborhood has changed over the decades.
Emmanuel George, the curator of the Old Dillard Museum, is photographed outside of the historic building in the Sistrunk neighborhood on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. George curated the latest exhibit “Sistrunk, Then & Now” to show how the Black neighborhood has changed over the decades. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com

A new exhibit in Fort Lauderdale will show the changing landscape of its historically Black community. The exhibit “Sistrunk Then & Now” opens Thursday at the Old Dillard Museum in Fort Lauderdale, pairing archival photographs with contemporary images to document decades of transformation in Sistrunk.

Named for Dr. James Sistrunk, founder of Provident Hospital, Broward County’s first Black hospital, the historically black neighborhood has stood as the epicenter of Fort Lauderdale’s Black culture and heritage.

The exhibit features 36 photographs spanning roughly 76 years —with some images dating back to around 1950— from the Gene Hyde Photography Collection, which documented everyday life in Broward County during the mid 20th Century, as well as photos from the Urban Renewal Project and contemporary photos from photographer David Paulo.

Old Dillard Museum curator and community liaison Emmanuel George described the exhibit ”intergenerational,” with something for lifelong residents who have seen the community change or young residents looking for context on their community.

“It’s also for those who are not from this community,” he said. “They can still relate to it because it is something that’s not just an isolated incident. This is similar in Overtown. This is similar in Brooklyn and Harlem. This exhibition speaks to everybody.”

Sixth Street, also known as Sistrunk Boulevard, has seen an increased boom in development in recent years from mixed-used developments to Black owned businesses lining the block, with one of the latest being Sunday’s Eatery from Miami legend Trick Daddy.

On Thursday, the Old Dillard Museum debut the “Sistrunk Then & Now” exhibit, which will feature photos depicting the Fort Lauderdale neighborhood dating back to 1950 and present day photos of what’s in place of landmarks, nightclubs and residential areas. This photo shows the Elks Lodge that was located on Second Street in Fort Lauderdale.
On Thursday, the Old Dillard Museum debut the “Sistrunk Then & Now” exhibit, which will feature photos depicting the Fort Lauderdale neighborhood dating back to 1950 and present day photos of what’s in place of landmarks, nightclubs and residential areas. This photo shows the Elks Lodge that was located on Second Street in Fort Lauderdale. Courtesy of Old Dillard Museum and History Fort Lauderdale
Old Dillard Museum’s “Sistrunk Then & Now” exhibit, shows photos of the Fort Lauderdale neighborhood through the years including landmarks, nightclubs and residential areas. This photo shows the vacant building that eventually would replace the old Elks Lodge.
Old Dillard Museum’s “Sistrunk Then & Now” exhibit, shows photos of the Fort Lauderdale neighborhood through the years including landmarks, nightclubs and residential areas. This photo shows the vacant building that eventually would replace the old Elks Lodge. David Paulo Courtesy of the Old Dillard Museum and David Paulo

In its prime, Sistrunk was a beacon of pride for Black people in Fort Lauderdale, particularly during the civil rights movement with such landmarks as the former Victory Theatre and the Windsor Club, a legendary night club where Louis Armstrong and BB King performed.

While a more modern version of the Victory Theater exists, the Windsor Club is long gone, replaced by an apartment building.

“This nightclub was where you had the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Cab Calloway and so many people — and now it’s just completely gone, without any kind of remnants of what used to be,” said George. “That was a big ‘wow’ for me.”

Thursday’s exhibit opening will also show two short films created through George and Paulo’s YouTube platform, The Hub: Fort Lauderdale and Untold Stories: Trekking Through Sistrunk. Attendees also will hear from trailblazers and elders who attended Dillard High School during segregation.

“It’s adding more context to the photos that you’re seeing,” George said. “You’re actually just getting some of those firsthand account stories from those elders as well.”

The exhibit will run through Jan. 30 before moving to Gate 4 at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Paulo, 28, a Lauderhill native, said he wanted to help shine a light on historic communities while showing that change is inevitable. While many of his peers know what some historic Black neighborhoods were like back in the 1980s, many don’t know that the history is even richer, he said.

“A lot of stuff is kind of hidden, in my opinion, so you got to really dig deep,” he said. “I really just wanted to showcase for my peers and people who are unaware that Fort Lauderdale was once very, very thriving in the Sistrunk area.”

He said the exhibit is necessary to show what a thriving Black community, Sistrunk once was in its heyday. He noted Sistrunk was self-sufficient, and many residents didn’t have to leave their neighborhood to get groceries or have fun. He doesn’t see why that sense of community has to be lost.

“It’s up to you to stand on your 10 toes and not sell that home,” he said. “Don’t sell your business. Don’t leave this area just because you got a little bit of money, or you want to, quote-unquote, level up. Never forget your roots. Understand where you come from, understand what is here, and also never let the legacy die.”

IF YOU GO:

What: Sistrunk Then & Now series

When: debut, Jan. 15, 6 p.m.; on display, Monday to Friday, Jan 30.

Where: Old Dillard Museum, 1009 NW 4th Street, Fort Lauderdale

Cost: Free

This story was originally published January 13, 2026 at 11:09 AM.

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