The Coulson House, built at the turn of the 20^th century,, was originally the home of Kate Coulson. Coulson bought the empty property from the estate of E. A. Perry in 1899 and built her home on the lot. After her marriage to Edward Coulson at Old Christ Church, the family had two children. Upon her husband’s death, Coulson continued her husband’s business at a butcher shop on South Palafox Street. Coulson continued running the butcher shop until around 1906. Coulson invested her money in properties across Pensacola, including properties on W Chase Street and North Spring Street.

In 1990, the non-profit African American Heritage Society outgrew the Pensacola Cultural Center. Working with the then, Pensacola Preservation Board, the Society moved into the Coulson house. This expanded their space, and allowed the Society to offer additional programs to the community.

Located at 200 East Church Street, the African American Heritage Society offers exhibits for adults and children and educational outreach programs that preserve and promote the culture and heritage of African Americans in Pensacola.

Credits and Sources:

Photographs from the University of West Florida Historic Trust

African-American Heritage Society, Inc. The African-American Heritage Center Capital Campaign. Brochure. Accessed April 14, 2015. UWF Historic Trust.

Historic Pensacola Preservation Board. The Coulson House(UWF Historic Trust: Labor Delivery, 1998).

R.L. Polk &Co.’s Pensacola City Directory, 1907, vol. 3 (Pensacola, FL: R.L. Polk & Co., 1907).