Winter Lecture: Columbia Beach: “Gem of the Bay”

Speakers: 

Mimi Giguère, Principal Investigator & Historic Architect 

Faye Belt, Former President, Columbia Beach Improvement Association  

Founded in 1940, Columbia Beach was one of several thriving African American waterfront communities established in Anne Arundel County during segregation. Now the first African American community in Maryland approved for submission to the National Historic Register, Columbia Beach stands as a vital part of the broader “Black Coast” story. 

This presentation shares the groundbreaking research, interviews, documentation, and community engagement that supported the nomination. Historic architect Mimi Giguère—an expert in preservation and architectural documentation—led the project’s technical and archival research. She is joined by Faye Belt, a longtime resident whose family has lived in Columbia Beach for three generations and who has dedicated her career to preserving African American heritage across the region, including the historic Crownsville Hospital. 

Together, they will offer a deeply informed look at the history, significance, and enduring legacy of this remarkable community.