“I have a dream…” This famous quote of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. best illustrates his quest for equality. But he probably never dreamed he’d be immortalized as a wax figure in St. Augustine a half century later. This dream project is now a reality, thanks to the artists of Potter’s Wax Museum.
The nation’s oldest wax museum, Potter’s is an entertaining venue, but also takes education seriously. Sure, it’s fun to take selfies beside those ultra-lifelike figures of historic rulers, political figures, and sports heroes, but it goes deeper. This location strives to keep the pop culture icons to a minimum. Instead it is now focuses on historic figures with local ties. That’s exactly why it was prime time to add Dr. King to the museum’s center stage.
Dave Chatterton, city manager for Historic Tours of America – the owner of Potter’s Wax Museum – is also the chairman for the St. Johns County Tourism and Hospitality Council. He says this project was inspired by the desire to tell, share, and remember the local narrative of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. To do so, they partnered with the non-profit ACCORD Civil Rights Museum. The figure was unveiled on the steps of the ACCORD museum Tuesday as a respectful ‘thank you’ and to bring attention to Florida’s first Civil Rights Museum.
By next week the MLK wax figure will be set into a diorama at the Wax Museum that includes the original Woolworth’s Counter, the scene of sit-in protests and the famous arrest of the “St. Augustine Four.”
Potter’s is one of the few museums still creating figures out of wax rather than synthetic materials. The figure is based on what King looked like during that dangerous summer of marches and protests in 1964. But the art team didn’t have to depend just on photos to capture King’s likeness and essence. They had first-hand help from locals who were there. People who knew him. Fed him. Prayed with him. Housed him and risked their lives to help further the Civil Rights cause.
Art Director for Historic Tours America, Monty Triz says immortalizing King this way was a complete team effort. During the five months it took for Triz and artists Brianna Serna, Cody Wicker and Chris Williams to create the figure, they met often with Ms. Cora Tyson. Tyson and her husband hosted King in their Lincolnville home when the reverend came to St. Augustine. It was an emotional moment when she saw the finished work.
“When I saw it, I broke down in tears. It’s wonderful,” she said.
Potter’s Wax Museum is located at 31 Orange St. The ACCORD Civil Rights Museum is located at 79 Bridge St.
